YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #158
Friday, November 24, 2017 08078068532
youthville@dailytrust.com
Youthfulness is about how you live not when you were born. – Karl Lagerfeld
...young at heart
Kannywood: How I produced ‘Abu Hassan’ — Zahraddeen Sani
Zahraddeen Sani is the executive producer of ‘Abu Hassan’ one of the latest films ms in the Hausa una state indigene movie industry, Kannywood that got people talking. In this interview, the Kaduna ng the film. spoke about the motivation and the challenges he encountered while producing From Richard P. Ngbokai, Kano
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ow did you begin your acting career? To be honest, I must say I drew my passion for acting in Kannywood from my childhood addiction to visual images. I watched a lot of movies from Bollywood, Nollywood, Hollywood since when I was a child and in fact in our house everybody knows that when I start watching films I don’t sleep until I finish. As time goes on, with the development in mind, I started getting more inclined to some actors from our local industries which eventually led me to Fati Mohammed. Fati Mohammed introduced me to Ali Nuhu and other prominent figures in the Kannywood. My first appearance in acting career was in a film produced by Ali Nuhu, it was an old film called ‘Makamaci’. What was your first appearance on set like? Laughter….ah! It was a very challenging experience. I didn’t know it was that tasking. When I mounted the stage I was unable to even speak for ‘fear of the camera’ so to say. I was very timid and shy, I spoke with quivering lips, my dialogue shaky typical of a novice. Ali Nuhu had to come to my rescue in several occasions. He calmed me down and told me what to do to overcome the fear and gradually I adapted. Your latest film, ‘Abu Hassan’ has gained fame. How did you conceive it? I must say so far in my acting career with the Kannywood, I have never produced a film that met my need as ‘Abu Hassan’. I have produced many films but this is my favourite. It was my story. I came up with the story idea by observing the way people, innocent Nigerians are being kidnapped on daily basis by some group of individuals who gang up themselves to hold the nation to ransom. These unfortunate events actually inspired the story line for the film to showcase the resilience of Nigerian
forces including the military and the police to tame the wave of terrorism. The central idea was to show the world that there are individuals in the Nigerian illing to armed forces and the police who are willing sacrifice their lives for the country. What was the central message the film tried to pass? ate with The message I was trying to communicate this film, is that kidnappers or anyone who has held this country to ransom should no longer be given listening ears through the law. They should be killed ow they up-front silently before the public even know have been apprehended. cing this What challenges did you face in producing film? ccessful Well, Alhamdullilahi, the shooting was successful e, Adam as none of the casts gave me any headache, e helped A. Zango cooperated with me totally and he tandard. to see that the result meets the desired standard. o did his The film director, Mohammed Alfa Zazi also ected of part excellently; everybody did what was expected n I took them on location. The challenge came when ked why the film to the censorship board. They asked ld them it should be named ‘Abu Hassan’ but I told hem I got nothing was special about the name. I told them my title from an old Indian film produced in 1975 ‘Ali Baba and 40 thieves’, there is also a novel to that film nd Imam and the actors of the film are Dramandra and Alik. The name of the boss was Abu Hassan and that was how I picked the name. nd arms How did you obtain those costumes and used in the film? k for the Well after we had finished the paper work ed heavy film, I observed that the character would need clothing and military hard ware to make the film look real so we started thinking of how to go about it. he attire For Abu Hassan’s boys we bought some of the ms used they wore but the military wares and the arms ou know were borrowed from the authorities. But you
To start a business, write down your plan, says entrepreneur, Amirah By Latifat Opoola @LatifatOpoola In starting a business, one needs to create a business plan. It will help t h e m define their
business, and set goals” twenty year old Amirah Yusuf has said. Amirah who owns a budding business: 'Cakes n Bakes' said the business plan will also startu to "find ways to help startups re generate revenue, list expenses, cu identify customer base and exam ex amin ine e competition. co examine soc The sociology student at St Kaduna State University said she started baking immediately after high school in 2014 to bore escape boredom. mak myself busy, I “To make b began to bake and engage in severall ca catering activities. I p made it a professional business 2015, Amirah who now early 2015,” employs two other young persons sai said. Althoug the entrepreneur Although taught he herself the basics she had to go g for professional lessons later, la she noted. She sourced d her funding from her mother who has been nurturing the business to growth.
Amirah who said the business is lucrative only when one is determined, and is attentive to the job. “It is time consuming so one needs to really pay attention; creativity also matters,” she added. The budding business woman said the motivation behind the business were her family, especially her mum who helped in shaping and designing the progress of the business. She is hopeful her electricity and transportation bills would reduce sooner because they both pose challenge to her business. Amirah said sometimes customer satisfaction should be paramount because it is key to keeping customer base. “Patience! They should be patient and be determined. My field of business is not as easy as it seems; so for someone starting, there is also the need to be hardworking, friendly, creative, active,” Amirah advised.
borrowing something like that, you have to satisfactory give reason, you have to explain convincingly what you want to use them for. That of course was part of the challenges we faced.
Fidelity Bank, entrepreneurs’ group partner on advisory services From Sunday Michael Ogwu, Lagos Fidelity Bank Plc and the Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE) have partnered to empower Nigerian entrepreneurs with advisory and technical services. Signing the pact this week, the bank said the ties will enhance the competitiveness and dynamism of young entrepreneurs. With a network of over 12.6 million members in Africa and 1.6m Nigerians, AYE is the largest network of entrepreneurs in the world. The organization uses conferences, workshops and motivational talks to share practical information on how to develop and manage businesses. As one of Nigeria’s top lenders operating out of over 240 business offices and other numerous e-channels. The bank’s CEO, Mr
Nnamdi Okonkwo told newsmen that was in line with government’s economic diversification plan. “The partnership was made possible because we share the same ideals on entrepreneurship and job creation,” he said. The group said its third Annual Conference will hold with the support of the bank in Lagos next Thursday. President of AYE, Mr Summy Smart Francis said the conference is a platform for accomplished business leaders to network with perhaps the brightest entrepreneurs in Africa. “It provides ample opportunity for individuals with vibrant business ideas to network with established industry leaders, policy makers and outstanding investors from around the globe to draw priceless, lifetransforming inspirations from success stories,” he stated.