Veteran Nollywood actor Sunday Afolabi has recounted the financial struggles, injuries and career setbacks that pushed him to take up different jobs outside acting, including helping passengers board a commercial minibus.
Afolabi made the revelation during an interview on Talk to B Show, hosted by actress Biola Adebayo, where he addressed the viral video that showed him working around a commercial bus.
The actor explained that he moved to Badagry, Lagos State, after finding it difficult to afford property closer to the city. However, he said the location later became a major obstacle to securing acting jobs because of the distance from film locations.
“I relocated to Badagry because I wanted to have a building of my own. As at that time, the little money I had could only buy me land in that area,” he said.
Afolabi added, “Out of sight is out of mind, but the distance of the house to the city has been a barrier… The kind of job I do, you don’t really make much, and you struggle a lot.”
His financial difficulties eventually forced him to dispose of his Nissan Quest, which he said he had been unable to repair for almost two years.
“I lost my Nissan Quest; I couldn’t afford to fix the shock absorber for almost two years,” he recalled.
“I sold my Nissan Quest for N180,000 to settle some debts and buy a fairly used motorcycle… I was not used to motorcycling, so I kept falling,” he said.
The veteran actor said motorcycle riding subsequently exposed him to accidents and serious injuries. He recalled falling into a pothole while carrying out a plumbing-related errand, an incident that affected his jaw. Another accident later resulted in a hospital stay of almost two weeks.
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Despite his difficulties, Afolabi said he refused to depend on begging and instead tried several legitimate occupations, including tailoring, photography, solar panel installation and commercial driving.
“So, if I call myself a jack of all trades and master of all, there’s no mistake in it, because what I hate most in my life is to beg for food. I’ll rather do any legitimate job,” he said.
Speaking about the viral video, the actor said he was disappointed by how some people interpreted the footage, although he remained willing to engage in honest work.
“People’s reaction to the video made me feel bad. Because people felt bad, I also felt bad that this is a wrong presentation of me to the world. It might be discouraging to anyone who wants to call me for a job, but I hoped for a positive impact,” he said.
Afolabi disclosed that the minibus shown in the video was currently not functioning.
He appealed for support to secure accommodation closer to central Lagos and obtain a reliable vehicle that could allow him to work as an Uber driver while remaining available for acting opportunities.
“If I can get accommodation help, it will help me get acting jobs… If I can also get the help of a good car, Toyota brand or anyone, I wouldn’t mind, just a good car that I can use for Uber,” he said.
“I’ll stop calling passengers into a minibus and strategically position myself as an Uber driver… There’s no shame in it,” he added.
Afolabi began his acting career in 1970 with the Adelove Theatre Troupe and has appeared in notable productions such as Owo Blow, Madam Dearest, Super Story and Village Headmaster.
He also praised his wife for remaining supportive throughout his struggles, expressing hope that assistance with accommodation and transportation would help him reconnect with the Nollywood community and rebuild his acting career.