President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed deep sorrow at the death of veteran Nollywood actor Richard Francis Duru who died at 57 describing his passing as a painful loss to Nigeria’s entertainment industry and the nation’s creative community.
The President extended his condolences to the deceased’s family colleagues admirers and the entire Nigerian film industry acknowledging his contributions to the growth and development of Nollywood.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga Tinubu said Duru belonged to a generation of actors whose dedication talent and commitment helped establish Nollywood as a major platform for storytelling and cultural expression.
He noted that veteran actors such as Duru played a significant role in shaping the artistic identity of Nigeria’s film industry nurturing emerging talent and projecting the country’s rich cultural heritage to audiences within and outside Nigeria.
According to the President Nollywood’s pioneers have been instrumental in transforming the industry into a key vehicle for promoting Nigerian stories traditions and values on the global stage.
Tinubu observed that accomplished entertainers’ influence transcends their lifetimes stressing that artists who devoted their careers to entertaining educating and inspiring society will continue to be remembered for their contributions to national development.
He maintained that Duru’s artistic accomplishments and contributions to Nollywood’s evolution would remain an enduring part of the industry’s history and Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
The President also reaffirmed his administration’s recognition of the arts and entertainment industry’s strategic importance to economic development cultural preservation and the promotion of Nigeria’s international image.
He assured members of the creative community that the Federal Government appreciated their invaluable contributions to the nation’s development and their role in projecting Nigeria’s identity across the world.
Tinubu prayed for Duru’s soul to rest in peace and asked God to grant his family friends professional colleagues and admirers the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.