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The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has officially inaugurated the Junior Pope Nollywood City in Enugu, a landmark project dedicated to immortalising the late actor John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, and celebrating his immense contributions to Nollywood. The project, which spans 150 plots of land, was unveiled during a ceremony on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Emeka Rollas, AGN national president, described the initiative as both a tribute to Junior Pope’s legacy and a step forward for the guild. “Though he left us too soon, his spirit continues to inspire us to build structures that will outlive us all. It is the planting of a seed that will grow into shelter, opportunity, unity, and remembrance,” he said. Rollas revealed that the project will feature a Junior Pope Creative Hub, alongside a permanent AGN Zonal and Enugu State Secretariat, designed to serve as a centre for training, administration, and creative development. He added that the initiative will also provide Nollywood practitioners with access to affordable land ownership, reinforcing the guild’s commitment to members’ welfare.
The AGN Enugu chapter, led by Brown Ene, spearheaded the project. Ene explained that the land acquisition aims to promote the image of Nollywood while supporting its members’ well-being. In a special gesture, Junior Pope’s three sons have each been allocated a plot of land, which will be presented to their mother, Jennifer Odonwodo. “We are naming it after our brother who died in a boat mishap to further immortalise him. It also serves as an encouragement to younger actors that dedication and responsibility will be recognised by the guild,” Ene said.
Jennifer Odonwodo expressed gratitude for the honour, reflecting on her late husband’s enduring legacy. “It’s indeed a great day, even though it’s filled with mixed emotions. I wish he was here to see this, but I’m happy it’s happening. It proves that he truly lives on because he worked so hard for the industry,” she said.
Junior Pope, who tragically passed away on April 10, 2024, in a boat accident on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State, was en route to a film location when the incident claimed his life along with four other crew members.
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