MINISTER of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has urged Nigerians to assist ailing Nollywood actor Zack Orji after his brain surgery on Monday, January 1.
According to a statement released by her special assistant on media and publicity, Nneka Anibeze, on Wednesday, January 3, the minister visited the actor at a private hospital in Wuse, Abuja.
Musawa described Zack Orji as one of the actors who set the foundation for the Nigerian film industry. She said he was important to the nation.
“You know that Zack Orji has been in the industry for decades. This is a man who has given his time and effort to entertain Nigerians. He is one of the individuals who laid the foundation for Nollywood and the film industry in Nigeria, but now he is sick and the least we can do as an administration is to give him all the necessary support through prayers and otherwise to ensure that we save his life.
“This will also propel the administration to look at the welfare of artistes and others in the industry who have not only given their time and energy, but people like Zack Orji who have become national treasures”, the statement read in part.
She further promised to support him and his family as she solicited the support of Nigerians through prayers and other means to ensure his swift recovery.
“God will heal him, and he will be well. We will do all we can to support him. We solicit the collective prayers of Nigerians because he is like a part of our families.
“We have watched him entertain us, and we see him as a national treasure. So the best we can do is to ensure that we support him to have the best treatment. We will reach out to other well-meaning Nigerians to support Zack Orji through prayers and other means available to ensure that he survives this ailment”, the statement read.
The 63-year-old actor was said to have been rushed to hospital after slumping in his home in December 2023.
He is an actor, director, filmmaker, and producer known for his role in Nollywood movies, including Glamour Girls and Blood Money, among others.
In November 2023, The ICIR reported Nollywood stars who took ill and requested public support.