Nigeria's Actors Guild partners with US tech firm Bebuzee to boost member income

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has announced a strategic partnership with Bebuzee, a technology company based in the United States, aimed at generating additional revenue streams for its members. The collaboration will establish a dedicated digital community on the Bebuzee platform, allowing actors to monetise the content they publish. The specific AGN community on the platform is scheduled to go live on October 31.

Abubakar Yakubu, the National President of the Guild, revealed the details of the agreement on Thursday. The news broke at the same time Yakubu was introduced as the newest face for Bebuzee, an AI-driven super application that has just launched in Nigeria. Yakubu stated that the initiative is designed to improve the financial outlook of actors, many of whom currently rely on standard artistic fees and income generated through existing social media channels. He noted that this new avenue would supplement earnings from platforms such as YouTube, providing a direct benefit to the creative work of guild members.

Under the terms of the partnership, members who join the AGN community on Bebuzee will be granted VIP status. Furthermore, individuals who bring their content, fan bases, and creative businesses onto the platform will receive immediate payments for their posts. Yakubu emphasised that the more actors earn through this new channel, the better their overall financial situation becomes, adding to their existing income sources.

Background

Bebuzee is a US-based technology firm that has recently launched its AI-powered super app in Nigeria. The platform has already secured partnerships with several prominent figures in the Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood. Prior to the announcement involving the Actors Guild, seven other Nollywood personalities were unveiled as signatories to Bebuzee during the platform's launch event in Lagos. The group consists of Patience Ozokwo, Ebele Okaro, Zubby Michael, Destiny Etiko, Segun Arinze, Sani Danja, and Jide Kosoko. Yakubu now joins this group of ambassadors, representing the institutional backing of the Actors Guild for the platform. The AGN itself is the professional body representing actors in Nigeria, and this partnership marks a significant step towards integrating its members into a new digital monetisation ecosystem.

Why it matters

This partnership addresses the financial challenges faced by many actors in Nigeria, who often depend on irregular income from film roles and limited monetisation options on traditional social media. By providing a dedicated space where content creators can receive instant payments, the collaboration aims to diversify the income sources for AGN members. For the actors involved, this means a potential increase in earnings from their creative output beyond conventional artiste fees. The involvement of high-profile Nollywood stars and the National President of the Actors Guild signals a broader industry shift towards leveraging new technology for financial sustainability. The immediate payment feature is particularly relevant for creators who seek quicker access to funds compared to the delayed payment schedules often associated with other digital platforms.

What happens next

The dedicated AGN community on the Bebuzee platform is set to launch on October 31. Following this launch, members will be able to join the community, obtain VIP status, and begin publishing content to receive instant payments. The platform will serve as a central hub for the guild's digital presence, allowing actors to manage their creative businesses and fan interactions within the Bebuzee ecosystem.