Actor and filmmaker Kunle Afod has successfully raised 1.2 million naira to support his colleague, Iya Niwe, who is popular in Nollywood films with Yoruba language.
The actor discovered the elderly actress at Agidigbo FM, owned by popular radio personality Hamzat Oriyomi, where Iya Niwe had been working.
Afod, moved by the plight of the actress, took it upon himself to rally support from his colleagues in the film industry.
In a passionate plea, he urged his colleagues to invite Iya Niwe for movie roles and advocated for casting elderly characters appropriately, discouraging the use of makeup on younger actors to portray elderly roles.
“My colleagues, let’s start calling Iya Niwe for movie roles constantly, every time, because you know she’s a talented artist and we have to do that for her please. Let’s put on hold making up for younger actors to play elderly characters. Let’s promote our veterans. I love this woman,” Afod pleaded passionately in the video when he first found Iya Niwe.
Popular jewellery maker Olusola Awujoola aka Malivelihood generously donated 1 million naira to the cause. This gesture added momentum to the campaign and brought the total amount raised to 1.2 million naira.
Expressing her gratitude, Iya Niwe revealed that she had stopped acting due to a lack of roles in Nollywood. However, she had no better option than to venture into small farming until Hamzat Oriyomi, the owner of Agidigbo FM, invited her to join his radio station in Ibadan where he placed her on his payroll.
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Afod also revealed that he has since secured two movie slots for Iya Niwe while also volunteering to drive her to and fro both movie locations.
With tears falling from her eyes, Iya Niwe expressed deep appreciation thanking Hamzat for taking her out of the farm.
“Since I have been struggling, I have never succeeded in anything. I end up getting sacked wherever I go to work. And after leaving there they would beg me. As much as I have offended Oriyomi Hamzat, he has never reacted badly to me,” she said.
“Hamzat was the first person to give me money. Nobody has ever given me any amount above ten thousand naira.”
She went on to thank Kunle Afod for remembering her and appreciated the support from Malivelihood and other generous donors who contributed to her financial well-being.
