UNITED Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has engaged the services of the popular Kanny-wood/Nollywood actor lm maker, Ali Nuhu, to champion its campaign for improved access to immunization and other child care services.
At a recent interview with journalists at the sidelines of a sensitization campaign to some primary health centres in Kano State, Ali Nuhu highlighted strategies that have been effective in “buying” the trust of the people, thus making them to embrace child care services.
He lamented the level of abuse being experienced in the Almajiri system of education in the north, which even many Islamic scholars are preaching against. FRED EZEH was there.
You have been UNICEF Champion for some time. What are your responsibilities?
It’s simple! Myself and other champions too, individually or collectively, engage in enlightenment outreaches to rural communities to educate and enlighten them on several issues. We use pictorial and video contents to pass these messages expectedly in languages the people understand easily.
How easy or otherwise has it been for you combining your other responsibilities and the UNICEF task?
It has not been easy for me, but the passion for the good and welfare of the children who are the future of Nigeria has kept me going, and that’s what UNICEF has been promoting over the years. But I must appreciate that fact that UNI- CEF considers my schedules, and perhaps, other champions in their activities. Such consideration has made it easier for us to have time to fully participate in their various outreaches. Secondly, be- ing a public figure, people expect much from me as regards moulding the society. So, I have that responsibility to give back to the society in terms of time, finances, advocacy and other ways that could make the society a better place.
Aside the routine engagement with UNICEF, how else do you engage with these rural communities to win their trust?
Winning the trust of the people is easy and difficult at the same time. But in whatever case, the motive behind the effort is very important. And this must include how you have been able to package your brand. Sincere answer to that question is very important. In achieving more results, UNICEF requires more in influencers and celebrities as champions, but not everybody will be considered for this sensitive and significant role. Perception and reputation is key and very important, otherwise, progress won’t be achieved. Another thing is also making yourself reachable and accessible to the people. You can’t surround yourself with a retinue of armed security men and expect the people to freely come close to you.
What kind of influencers do you suggest that could make more impact?
Speaking about the north specially, we need more female influencers from the region who have a very good understanding of the people, and also command trust and respect. Northern Nigeria has its peculiarities as regards culture and religion. So, it requires someone that has good knowledge of the people and their cultural and religious history to make the necessary impacts. Also, ability to communicate effectively with the language of the people will also go a long way in achieving the desired result.
Aside Kannywood, you are also a key player in the Nollywood. How have you been able to protect your identity among northerners who watch Nollywood?
When I crossed over to Nollywood and began to accept acting roles, I knew that I had to caution myself. Being a northerner, I had my own share of backlash because of the roles I used to play in Nollywood. In the beginning, I played all the roles, including intimate ones, notably kiss, hug, and other responsibilities around romance. But gradually, I realised something and thank God I did that early, that a large chunk of my fan base is from the north and it stretches out to Hausa communities in every part of the world, and whoever is casting me in a movie will like to leverage on that fan base. So, it’s expected of me to do what pleases that fan base. Otherwise, I might lose them. When I realised that, and thank God I did early, I started selecting the roles I play in movies. I decided that I won’t kiss neither will I hug nor play intimate roles, and as far as I am concerned, all the producers know and respect that decision. This is because, the audience you are yearning to have might reject me and the lm, which will result in a big loss. That decision has helped me tremendously. Also, I am a family man, and I take my wife into consideration in all the roles I am assigned to play in any movie. She doesn’t react openly but I know deep down she’s uncomfortable with me being involved in some romantic roles in a movie.
Being a UNICEF champion, how do you promote the cause of children at every of your engagement within and outside Nigeria?
Yes, it’s part of my responsibilities as UNICEF champion. For instance, I was out of the country few months ago to attend a lm festival, and I never hesitated to promote the activities of UNICEF in addition to other engagements I had. I always use every platform available to push for the welfare and well-being of children, even if it’s outside UNICEF-organised events. As the Managing Director of Nigeria Film Corporation, we are planning a lm festival that will take place later in the year. We plan to have a day during the festival to advocate for movies and other literary works that would promote children’s rights. We may seek partnership with UNICEF to achieve that. There’s also a need to initiate conversations about the plight of the boy-child or carry out the conversations along that line. There are more conversations on the girl-child with little or no attention to the boy-child. These boys are the ones that would marry these girls in future. Also, they are vulnerable to several vices that are being witnessed in the society.
How has being a UNICEF Champion impacted on you as an actor and a family man?
As an actor and a family man, being a UNI- CEF Champion has given me more sense of responsibility. As a celebrity/public figure, there’s likelihood that you don’t take some things into consideration; you could go ahead and do things without looking back. But with such responsibility, you think before taking some actions because you know that people are looking at you. For instance, I don’t take a role that has to maltreat a child. That’s against what I preach. Someone could use that against my person and UNICEF. This is because many people take pleasure in misinterpreting a positive narrative.
Are you worried about the possible representation?
Of course, I am worried about that. I am one of the Kannywood lmmakers that are very coopferative with journalists. Many of my colleagues shy away from the media for some reasons, including the possibility of being misquoted. But I am not in that circle. I freely grant interviews whenever the opportunity presents. But I always frown at situations where I was misrepresented in an interview with a foreign media platform. In the course of an interview, they asked me about my relationship with my female colleagues in the industry, and my reply was that they call me “Daddy” and that was because of the respect they have for me, and the way I packaged my- self. But it was misinterpreted.
How open are you working with other celebrities and infuencers for the UNICEF work?
It’s always a good idea for more people to join the advocacy campaign at different levels. For instance, in my last UNICEF engagement in Kano, having a female colleague in the team would help to achieve a lot. A colleague was supposed to join that advocacy but she couldn’t because of a stiff production work in Lagos. I so much believe in a system where everybody must contribute in one way or the other to better the society. Myself alone cannot handle the campaign in the north. This northern region is so large for me alone to cover. So, with increased number, one person can engage from one end while others engage from another end. Collectively, we would achieve the desired result.
Will you consider a movie or series to promote the importance of child rights?
Yeah, it’s a good suggestion. We are open to such partnerships that would bring about such things. Presently, we are in talks with relevant individuals and partners to do a movie along that line. But there are several movies and TV series advocating children rights. I have played similar roles in a movie called ‘Manya Mata’ and I won’t hesitate to do more.
Have you had a backlash for promoting movies against the Almajiri system of education in the past?
Personally, I have not. But let me tell you something: there are lot of wrong perceptions about Almajiri system of education. Even some Islam scholars are against the way some people practise the Almajiri system of education, and they are asking for a change in that system. If you are a northerner, and you are intelligently discussing the Almajiri issue, they would know you are very much aware of what you are dis- cussing. So, they won’t attack you for that. Nevertheless, I have not personally experienced such backlash, and I don’t expect it. On women rights, Islam is a religion that advocates women rights, but there’s a misunderstanding of that part of the Holy Book.