Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello has said Nigeria is her home and a place that made her who she is today, adding that she has no desire to leave the country.
“America trained me, but Nigeria made me,” Bello said during a panel discussion at “20+ Years in the Media: Real Talk with Kike @7.”
Bello stated that, despite Nigeria's challenges, she still sees opportunities in the country that can inspire hope among young people as they develop their careers.
“I pray I never get the opportunity, as they call it, to go back,” she said. “Yes, you’ll say because I’ve done it before. I’ve been there before. Yes, I agree with that. But because of the opportunities that I’ve seen in this country, and I am still seeing, I don’t ever want to go back. This is home, this is where it is.”
The actress acknowledged the frustrations many Nigerians encounter, such as issues with electricity, education, and healthcare. However, she encouraged young people to invest in themselves and seize the opportunities available to them.
“Look within yourself, what do you have to offer? What is in your hands?” she said. “Whatever it is that is in your hands to offer, study, learn and prove yourself worthy of it.”
The actress encouraged young people to stay true to themselves and dedicated to their craft, emphasizing that these qualities have supported her career.
“For me to be here for so many years, first of all, I have to be authentic to who I am. If you lie, you keep having to remember the lies, if you tell the truth, it’s easy.”
Bello mentioned that faith played a key role in her life, encouraging youth to “hold God tight" while chasing their dreams.
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