Veteran Nollywood actor Chiwetalu Agu has delivered a timely piece of advice to young people, urging them to enjoy their youth while actively preparing for the realities of old age. The seasoned performer shared the message in an Instagram video.
In the clip, Agu painted a realistic picture of ageing, highlighting the health challenges that often come with it.
“Enjoy yourself now that you are young. Old age is full of challenges. Old age comes with one problem or another. If it is not diabetes, it is high blood pressure. If it is not heart problem, it may be kidney or liver issues. If it is not stroke, then it is problems with the brain and many others.”
He stressed the importance of making the most of the present moment.
“Enjoy yourself now that you are young. Time waits for no one. Live your life to the fullest.”
Agu reminded his audience that
“Old age is not child’s play.”
The actor went further by calling for balance between enjoyment and foresight. Referencing the Bible, he said,
“Ecclesiastes 3 verse 1: To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. Old age is best enjoyed when you prepare for it. I am not trying to scare you. I am only saying it the way it is.”
Agu encouraged young people to focus on what truly matters for a fulfilling later life.
“Hold God tight. Treat your family right and make plenty money. I repeat, make plenty money. Your bills will not pay themselves. Invest now while you can.”
He contrasted youthful spending with the worries of old age:
“The bills you will pay in your old age will be much more expensive than what you spend in clubs. At that time, you will not be spending and smiling with hope that more will come. Instead, you will be spending with worries, preparing and counting your days.”
Known for his long and colourful career in Nigerian cinema, Agu has often used his platform to share life lessons drawn from personal experience. His latest message strikes a chord in a generation balancing ambition, social media pressures and the desire for immediate gratification.