Nollywood actor Zubby Michael has claimed that some industry gatekeepers and executives are reluctant to support Igbo talents because they fear those they mentor could eventually become their competitors.

Michael made the remarks during an interview with Broadway TV, which began trending on Sunday.

According to the actor, Igbo talents are often quick learners who can acquire professional skills within a relatively short period, a situation he said makes some executives hesitant to mentor them.

“Igbo people are fast learners and they are capable of making it big with just a little. 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.

“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.

Michael further alleged that the reluctance to support Igbo talents was not limited to non-Igbo executives, claiming that some Igbo industry leaders also shared similar concerns.

“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.

His comments come days after veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru expressed concern about what he described as the declining presence of Igbo-centred stories and cultural heritage in contemporary Nigerian cinema.

Duru made the remarks during an interview on Gbam, aired on the Yan Content Factory YouTube channel on Friday.

He urged Igbo filmmakers and investors to adopt aspects of the Yoruba film industry's approach to promoting and preserving its cultural stories and heritage.

Speaking on the apparent dominance of Yoruba producers during major cinema release periods and on global streaming platforms such as Netflix, Duru partly attributed the development to what he described as the failure of Igbo filmmakers to adapt, invest strategically and protect their regional narratives.

“When they say charity begins at home, that’s what has happened to the Yorubas. We need to learn from them. If you don’t protect your own, if you don’t project your own, you know, who will do it?” he said.