As the Nollywood industry continues to mourn the loss of veteran actors who have passed away in recent times, actress and movie producer, Foluke Daramola-Salako, speaks on why she celebrates the birthday of many veteran actors
Daramola-Salako, who was recently accused of bankrolling aged actors after celebrating the birthdays of some actors including 97-year-old Charles Olumo, aka Baba Agbako, and Tajudeen Oyewole, aka Abija, maintained that she was not being bankrolled by anyone but rather she has helped them against depression.
She told Saturday Beats, “My main purpose is to attract publicity for elderly actors. I decided to celebrate their birthdays pending when I have my major event. I have always said that a lot of these aged actors are facing depression. Some don’t die just because they are old but being once active and suddenly not being active anymore could be a painful experience for them. Sometimes, it is not about the money that I or any other person gives them. It is a matter of showcasing them, so that their talent is still appreciated. I can tell you as a movie director that there is a place for these aged veterans in the movies we make.
“Some people think that someone is sponsoring me but I am stressing that no philanthropist is sponsoring me. Everything I am spending is from my pocket. If anyone decides to sponsor me, I would announce it and appreciate the person. I have been true to this course because it is a project I love. In fact, the reason I opened a restaurant and bar is that I might run out of funds to host these veterans at event centres and I would gladly use my space. Any politician or anyone that has bankrolled me over these projects is free to speak out.”
When asked why she did not enlist the support of other colleagues, the actress said, “I left the ‘Nolly veteran SOS Project 2019’, an offshoot of Passion Against Rape and Abuse in Africa Foundation open to a lot of people so that we could all help. But, the truth is that our goals are not the same. My husband believes in me so he has continued to help me in that path. I believe that a nation without heroes is a nation without history. We don’t have many icons that we look up to now. The ones alive are meant to be celebrated and we should all look out for them. These veterans are giving up and dying in penury. Growing up, I held these people in high esteem because their works and skills were worthy of emulation. I should also state that some actors personally reach out to some veterans. They support them from time to time without going public about it.”
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