Veteran Nollywood actor, Lari Williams is homeless and going blind

By Adedayo Odulaja

Having given his life to the promotion of the arts, one would think veteran Nollywood actor, Lari Williams should be able to afford some comfort in his old age. Sadly, that is not the case.

At a time the case of Majek Fashek, another hugely talented Nigerian dominates the space, it is disheartening to learn that another popular Nigerian entertainer is having to beg for food, shelter and care.The apparently dejected actor has called on philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to come to his aid as he is not just homeless but also going blind now.

While shutting down rumours that he was given a two-bedroom flat by the Federal Government in a recent interview, the actor said: ‘I have heard people say that the Lagos State or the Federal Government had given me a two-bedroom flat somewhere, it is all lies.’

His lamentation that creative persons who have served diligently for several years should not be begging in their old age is not only tear-inducing but also a sad reflection of the Nigerian entertainment setting.

‘We served this country and helped to build the entertainment sector that a lot of people are benefiting from today, but there is nothing for people like me to show for it.

‘Most of us are left unsung because of the kind of structure that is being run; we should be having benefits like the civil servants. In other climes, artists live on government subventions and are structured in such a way that they earn from their creative works.’

The recipient of the MFR mentioned the names of two recently deceased but hugely popular peers who died in a situation not so different from his.

‘Look at Femi Robinson who played the second headmaster-character in the Village Headmaster, a Nigerian television drama, Dan Maraya Jos and others, they all died with nothing. We are not handing over what we have in us to the next generations; because the room was not created for that,’ he said.

Not one to just decry the situation without proffering a solution, he added: ‘Nigerian cultural policy should be looked into so as to fashion out ways that can benefit the government and the practitioners.

The present government should be very careful in whom it will appoint as ministers, that it will sent to the arts sector. We need hands-on individuals to be made ministers. Government needs to have time for the creative sector so that it can have a voice, arts has been the unfortunate ministry. If it is well structured, then we can stop dying poor.’