Some Nollywood executives and gatekeepers are reluctant to mentor Igbo talents because they fear the mentees will quickly master the skills and become competitors, actor Zuby Michael has said.
Michael made the remarks in an interview with Broadway TV while discussing barriers facing emerging artists in Nigeria’s film industry.
He said industry players often hesitate because Igbo creatives are seen as rapid learners who can achieve success with limited guidance.
“People are scared because Igbo people are fast learners and they are capable of making it big with just a little,” Michael said.
He added that knowledge acquired over many years could be absorbed far more quickly by such talents.
“You might decide to mentor an Igbo person and what took you 10 years to learn, he will learn it in one year and six months,” he said.
Michael warned that poor treatment of a mentee could prompt them to leave and establish a rival venture using the same expertise.
“And if you don’t treat him well, he will leave you and start doing the same business you taught him and become your competition. So, people are scared of that,” he said.
The actor further claimed the reluctance extends to some Igbo executives themselves, who fear being outshone by those they support.
“Industry executives, including some Igbos, don’t like supporting Igbos because they feel like they will get betrayed by their mentee outshining them,” he said.
The comments come amid broader discussions in the industry about opportunities for Igbo-centric stories and the support available to talents from the southeast.
