The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has unveiled Junior Pope Nollywood City in Enugu State, a housing and creative development project established to honour and immortalise the late Nollywood actor, JohnPaul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope.
The project, located at Ako Nike in Enugu State, comprises 150 plots of land dedicated to celebrating the legacy of the late actor. In addition, the guild allocated one plot of land each to Junior Pope’s three sons as a lasting tribute to their father’s contributions to the Nollywood industry.
Junior Pope died in April 2025 alongside four colleagues after their boat capsized in the Anam River while returning from a movie shoot.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, the National President of AGN, Mr Emeka-Rollas Ejezie, described the initiative as historic and a symbol of a legacy that would endure beyond the present generation.
He said the project was dedicated to the memory of Junior Pope, whom he described as a disciplined professional whose passion and commitment to Nollywood left an indelible mark on the industry.
“Though he left us too soon, his spirit continues to inspire us to build structures that will outlive us all. This is the planting of a seed that will grow into shelter, opportunity, unity and remembrance,” Ejezie said.
He explained that the project reflects AGN’s renewed commitment to the welfare of its members, noting that actors have long contributed significantly to Nigeria’s cultural identity with limited institutional support.
“Today, we say clearly that the welfare of our members is not a slogan; it is a responsibility,” he said, adding that the city would provide Nollywood practitioners with access to affordable land ownership.
According to him, the project will also house the Junior Pope Creative Hub as well as permanent AGN Zonal and Enugu State secretariats, providing a physical base for training, administration and creative development in the state.
Commending the AGN Enugu Chapter for initiating the project, Ejezie noted that Enugu has historically been a hub for arts and culture, saying the development would further strengthen the state’s role in the creative industry.
He also expressed appreciation to the Enugu State Government, Cool Brains Real Estate and the Ako Nike community for their support and cooperation.
The AGN National President-elect, Alhaji Abubakar Yakubu, pledged that the incoming leadership would prioritise the completion of the project.
Also speaking, Chairman of the AGN Enugu Chapter and initiator of the project, Brown Ene, said the land was acquired to enhance the image of Nollywood and improve the welfare of guild members.
He explained that naming the city after Junior Pope was a deliberate effort to immortalise the late actor and inspire younger practitioners in the industry.
“Junior Pope’s three sons will each receive a plot of land, which has already been allocated and will be formally presented to their mother on their behalf,” Ene said.
Responding on behalf of the family, Junior Pope’s wife, Mrs Jennifer Odonwodo, expressed gratitude to the guild for honouring her late husband and supporting their children.
“It’s a day filled with mixed emotions. I wish he were here to witness this, but I’m grateful that his legacy is being preserved. It shows that he truly lives on through the impact he made while he was here,” she said.