Former actress and producer in Kannywood, Hajiya Mansurah Isah, has received a substantial grant from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). She aims to use this grant to empower women in Kannywood to become more self-reliant. According to Mansurah, women must diversify their roles beyond just being on-screen heroes; many feel their careers are over once they get married or stop acting. She believes this grant presents a unique opportunity to educate women about various aspects of the film industry, dispelling the notion that they can only be actors.
The items provided by NITDA to Mansurah include:
- One Alienware M18 R2 gaming laptop
- One TraceMR178i gaming desktop
- Two 4K monitors
- One Maverick 1550VA UPS
- One Adobe Premiere 2024 software
- Internal and external SSD drives
- One 40-inch smart TV
- One DaVinci Resolve Studio PluralEyes software
- One cinema-line camera with high-quality lenses
- Memory cards
- One professional tripod
- A mini drone
In an interview with Fim magazine, Hajiya Mansurah discussed how she secured this grant from the Federal Government and the steps she took to ensure its successful reception. She expressed her hope that this support would positively impact the Kannywood industry.
INTERVIEW EXCERPT:
Hausalead: We have heard about the funding for the development of the film industry that you received from the Federal Government through NITDA. How did you obtain this support, and how do you plan to utilize it for the development of the film industry?
Mansurah Isah: First and foremost, I would like to introduce myself as an actor, producer, director, and a woman in Kannywood. It’s evident that men dominate the film industry; producers, directors, and many other roles you see are primarily held by men.
This reality prompted me to reflect on what women in the industry are doing. Many women enter the film industry with the sole ambition of becoming actresses, unaware of the diverse opportunities available to them. It seems that our primary focus is often on showcasing our looks for profits and fame. Unfortunately, this approach can limit our potential in the long run, especially as time goes on. There comes a point when a woman may find herself in difficult circumstances, such as facing health issues or financial struggles.
Men, on the other hand, usually navigate their careers in the film industry for a longer period, whether as producers, directors, or cameramen. Many have achieved considerable success and have passed their knowledge on to their children. In contrast, once a woman gets married, her status as a leading figure often diminishes. This raises the question: what opportunities remain for women in the film industry post-marriage? Unfortunately, many marriages in our community stem from lust rather than a genuine desire to build a life together under God.
Without strong support systems, women may find themselves in challenging situations. We tend to have softer hearts, and even when faced with a partner’s poor behavior, we may overlook their faults because we invest our emotions in them.
Or you might see a movie actress who got married and encountered difficulties because she stopped working after her marriage. Without a source of income, it’s no wonder that she feels unprepared for this new life. This situation demonstrates how some perceive marriage as detrimental.
This was the reason I sought to meet with the Director General of NITDA. Fortunately, I was given a meeting time along with one of my friends. I shared all the information and requests we have in the Kannywood industry, explaining how women need support to protect themselves from exploitation in this male-dominated field. One girl even mentioned that when she entered the industry, she was approached by someone who suggested a sexual arrangement in exchange for opportunities. Such male dominance perpetuates a cycle of vulnerability for women who often lack the same power as men.
Now that I’ve started producing films, I’m working with prominent actors, and more women are reaching out to me daily, wanting their children to enter the film industry through me. They trust me because I am a woman, and I assure them that their children will be treated ethically and will adhere to the rules to navigate the industry safely. However, some people rush the process and do not want to wait for the right opportunities. I communicated all of this to the officials I met, and they recognized the importance of my goals. They encouraged me to write down my requests.
We aim to elevate women in Kannywood through modern development. Although it was a government initiative, we spent five months preparing documents and following up until we eventually succeeded. I was delighted to receive the news that our materials had arrived and would be brought to Kano. Thankfully, everything I requested was provided.
Now, we plan to create a large outdoor space to facilitate our work. The area we prepared initially turned out to be too small for the equipment we received, so we had to change locations due to security concerns. The materials provided are modern and up-to-date, including all the tools necessary for production—from cameras to computers, everything used in the global film industry is available.
The goal is to support the Kannywood film industry and enhance women’s roles so they can build their businesses beyond just acting. Mansurah Isah, with the resources she received from NITDA, has a vision for how Kannywood women can benefit from this support.
Mansurah stated that we plan to provide employment opportunities for women and raise awareness among them about self-reliance, even for those who are married. We aim to offer training programs for women and young people, ensuring everyone has a chance to be independent. We have good news for any woman looking to learn about modern business and career opportunities in the film industry via social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. These platforms can help generate income without requiring women to leave their homes. They will learn how to edit and manage film content from their own space, allowing them to contribute while balancing their household responsibilities.
MANSURAH: As you can see, there are fewer women in the field of film editing, which gives the impression that the entire industry is dominated by men. This often leads to a lack of focus on the specific needs of women in the field.
For instance, I have had to let go of a film project because those to whom I entrusted the work didn’t have a dedicated space to collaborate. We plan to address these issues.
FILM: The film industry, after all, requires funding to operate. Do you have any plans for securing the necessary resources?
MANSURAH: Yes, we are exploring various options. However, we will start with what we already have. As we gather resources, we will also seek management fees until our facility becomes self-sustaining. Although we intend to offer many of the educational resources for free, we will look for ways to ensure that the center can support itself, including compensating spouses and covering daily administrative costs.
FILM: You mentioned that many women enter the film industry with dreams of becoming actresses. How do you plan to demonstrate that acting is not the only career path in this field?
MANSURAH: Well, I can relate to that. When I first entered the film industry, I felt a profound connection to it. Even now, as I navigate my career, women look up to me, proud to know my name, Mansurah Isah. Since entering the industry, I have not relied on any director or producer for guidance. Even if I’m not currently working on a film, I know that in the future, I will be respected for paving my path.
Women should realize that acting is just one of many roles available in the film industry. There are positions like producer, director, and cinematographer that are equally important. It is unnecessary to limit oneself to acting to achieve financial stability or fame in this industry, as it is vast and diverse. When producing a film, you might notice that the crew often outnumbers the actors; you may have twenty actors, but there are typically more than fifty crew members involved in various roles, from scriptwriters to film editors to marketing teams.
So, we women need to come together and acknowledge that our contributions go beyond just acting. We can and should do our best to educate women about these alternatives.
FILM: What message would you like to convey as we conclude?
MANSURAH: I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for their support of the Kannywood industry, particularly for women like myself. This assistance has been invaluable in helping us envision a brighter future for the Kannywood industry. We are truly thankful, and with God’s blessing, we will continue to educate women about modern technology and empower them to take pride in roles beyond acting, as their value shouldn’t be tied solely to performances.
FILM: Thank you for your insights.
MANSURAH: Thank you very much as well.
