AGN Unveils ‘Junior Pope Nollywood City’ in Enugu to Immortalise Late Actor

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has launched the Junior Pope Nollywood City in Enugu State, unveiling a layout of 150 plots of land in honour of the late Nollywood actor, JohnPaul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope.
As part of the memorial initiative, the guild also allocated one plot of land each to the actor’s three sons, preserving his legacy and recognising his contributions to the AGN and the Nollywood industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Junior Pope died in April 2025 alongside four colleagues after their boat capsized in the Anam River while they were on a movie set.
Speaking on Tuesday at the groundbreaking ceremony held at Ako Nike in Enugu State, the National President of AGN, Mr. Emeka-Rollas Ejezie, described the occasion as historic, noting that it marked the beginning of a lasting legacy.
According to him, the project was dedicated to the memory of Junior Pope, whose life, he said, reflected discipline, excellence and deep passion for the Nigerian film industry.
“Although he left us too early, his spirit continues to inspire us to build structures that will outlive all of us.
This project is the planting of a seed that will grow into shelter, opportunity, unity and remembrance,” Ejezie said.
He explained that the development symbolised AGN’s renewed commitment to the welfare of its members, stressing that actors had long contributed to Nigeria’s cultural identity without sufficient institutional support.
“Today, we are making it clear that members’ welfare is not just a slogan but a responsibility. Through this initiative, Nollywood practitioners will have access to affordable land ownership,” he said.
Ejezie added that the guild would also establish the Junior Pope Creative Hub as well as permanent AGN zonal and Enugu State secretariats within the city.
“This means that training, administration and creativity will now have a physical home in Enugu State,” he noted.
Commending the AGN Enugu Chapter for driving the initiative, Ejezie described Enugu as a historic centre for arts and culture, adding that the project would further consolidate that status.
He also expressed gratitude to the Enugu State Government for supporting Nollywood and recognising the creative industry as a key driver of economic growth and youth employment. He thanked Cool Brains Real Estate and the people of the Ako Nike community for their cooperation.
Meanwhile, the AGN National President-elect, Alhaji Abubakar Yakubu, assured members that the incoming executive would treat the project as a top priority.
Also speaking, the Chairman of AGN Enugu Chapter and initiator of the project, Mr. Brown Ene, said the land was acquired to enhance Nollywood’s image and improve the welfare of guild members.
“This is part of our efforts to ensure that our members have access to affordable housing in Enugu. We named the city after our brother who died in a boat accident to further immortalise him,” Ene said.
He added that the initiative was meant to inspire younger actors, showing them that dedication, responsibility and commitment to the guild would always be remembered.
Ene confirmed that the allocation of one plot of land each to Junior Pope’s three sons had been completed and would be formally presented to their mother on their behalf.
Responding on behalf of the family, Junior Pope’s wife, Mrs. Jennifer Odonwodo, expressed appreciation to the guild for honouring her late husband and supporting their children.
“It is truly a great day, even though it comes with mixed emotions. I wish he were here to witness this honour, but I am grateful it is happening. It shows that he truly lives on because of how hard he worked for the industry,” she said.