Bob-Manuel Udokwu has dismissed claims that the Nigerian film industry does not pay well, arguing instead that many actors struggle due to mounting financial responsibilities.

Speaking in a recent interview with Udala FM, Udokwu reflected on the financial challenges faced by actors, citing the case of late colleague John ‘Mr Ibu’ Okafor as an example.

“No, it is not that it (Nollywood) does not pay, but you have bills to pay. It pained me when John Okafor died or rather when he was sick,” he said.

“We were looking for how to assist him, and some idiots came to social media to say is he not being paid in Nollywood. Where is all the money he made?”

He explained that the late actor had significant financial obligations, adding that he wasn’t aware Okafor had more than two wives.

“The man has been running bills. Today, we have seen that he has more than two wives. I did not know that because I do not probe into the personal lives of my colleagues, both male and female. A man is not supposed to gossip,” he said.

Udokwu also argued that men and women do not enjoy the same societal realities, claiming that the world is naturally more favorable to women.

“But, I can tell you that the world is more favorable for women than men naturally. A man and a woman are not equal,” he said.

“A man of 40 will marry a girl of 21 and they’ll become mates. You can hardly reverse it. Forget that there is now a lot of abominations today.”

Mr Ibu died from a cardiac arrest on March 2, 2024, at Evercare Hospital in Lagos.

The actor had suffered a life-threatening illness for months before his demise. He was buried in Amurri, Nkanu, his hometown in Enugu.

Controversy erupted last month when Stella Okar, Mr Ibu’s widow, had appealed for public support, revealing the family had been without electricity for two months, and her children had been sent home from school over unpaid fees. Her plea reportedly raised over N7 million in donations.

Somtochukwu Okafor, the actor’s third son, however, dismissed his stepmum’s claims of financial hardship, alleging she sold several properties following Mr Ibu’s passing.

Actor Tenkobo also criticised Stella, accusing her of exploiting her late husband’s legacy to solicit donations.

But the controversy deepened when a woman claiming to be Mr Ibu’s first wife accused Stella of financial mismanagement and orchestrating the arrest of two relatives during the actor’s illness.

She accused Stella of selling off the late actor’s properties without consulting other family members, including a parcel of land in Enugu, reportedly valued at N18 million and a house in Lagos.