By Saif Ibrahim, Kano

Who is Dan Hausa?

I am Kamilu Ibrahim born 31 years ago, but most people know me as Dan Hausa. I was born in Fagge, Kano State, and from the very beginning I knew I wanted to tell stories that reflect the realities of my people. I trained at the High Definition Film Academy in Abuja, SAE Institute, and also took part in the U.S. Embassy’s Filmmaking for Impact program. I join the fikm making industry and started directing in 2017 because I wanted full control over how my stories are told.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey into film directing?

My journey began with a love for storytelling—I started as a scriptwriter, then worked closely with experienced filmmakers before directing my first film. Over the years, I’ve learned that directing isn’t just about cameras and lights, but about understanding people, culture, and the power of narrative.

Growing up, I saw how films could educate and inspire people. In Arewa, cinema is more than entertainment—it’s a mirror of society. I wanted to use that mirror to reflect our values, challenges, and hopes. That desire to make meaningful films pushed me into directing.

What sets your work apart in today’s Kannywood?

For me, it’s about merging modern cinematic techniques with our Hausa cultural identity. I love bold visuals and tight storytelling, but I never want to lose that traditional heartbeat of my origin. My goal has always been to raise our production quality to international standards while staying true to our roots”, proof of that is clear in my current and biggest project, “Wata Shida.

How would you describe your directing style?

I like to call my style “realism with purpose.” I focus on authenticity—every scene, every performance, every frame must feel true to life. But I also ensure that there’s always a message, something the audience can take home and reflect on.

Can you highlight some of your notable works?

Sure, there is Wata Shida which is currently airing and has an overwhelming response from the public and the likes of Lulu Da Andalu a myth-inspired adventure series showing on AREWA24 and YouTube. YouTube pushed us to think bigger in terms of story and production. Mijin Hajiya earned me Best Director at the 2024 Kano Entertainment Awards, while Tataburza made waves at film festivals. Earlier films like Bakon Yanayi (2019) and my debut Kulba Na Barna (2017) helped me define my style. My latest project, Amaryar Lalle, starring Rahama Sadau, premieres August 2025 on Sadau Pictures TV. Each project is a step forward in showing what Kannywood can achieve.

What awards and recognitions have you earned?

I have also been recognized by the Arewa5050 Awards and Kaduna International Film Festival (KIFF) for Lulu Da Andalu, which even won Best Indigenous Hausa Film. There’s also an AMVCA nomination for best Africanindigenous language , which is exciting because it means Hausa stories are getting wider attention.”

Who are your key collaborators?

Filmmaking is teamwork; TY Shaba has been a creative partner on several projects, especially on Lulu Da Andalu. I have WORKED with Rahama Sadau on Amaryar Lalle has been fantastic; she brings so much energy to the screen.”

What themes do you explore in your films?

I like telling stories where modern life clashes with traditional values—family conflict, cultural identity, gender roles. These are real issues in our society, and I try to explore them honestly but cinematically. I believe film should make people feel and also think.”

What is your next project?

I am working on Wata Shida Season 2, a story about a woman who enters a six-month sham marriage to protect her inheritance. It’s socially meaningful but also very entertaining. I will also continue with season 2 of “Amaryar Lalle.”

Can you tell us a little about your latest project?

This project is very close to my heart. It follows a young girl fighting to get an education in a society full of obstacles. Through her eyes, we see how family, tradition, and resilience collide, and how hope can survive even in the harshest situations.”

What inspired you to make this story?

Growing up, I saw so many bright young girls whose dreams were cut short just because they were girls. I felt a responsibility to tell this story—not as fiction, but as a mirror of what is happening around us.

How do you balance tradition and modernity in your work?

A: It’s about respect. I respect our traditions, but I also embrace new technology and ideas. In my films, I make sure traditional values are represented truthfully, while using modern techniques to improve production quality.

What challenges do you face as a director in Kannywood?

Budgets are often limited, and resources can be scarce. But the biggest challenge is sometimes societal misunderstanding of what we do as filmmakers. People forget that film is also an art form and a tool for change, not just entertainment.

Can you tell us your favourite project

Every project has its own special memory, but I’m proudest when a film sparks conversation or impacts people’s lives. For example, one of my recent films about youth unemployment led to community discussions and even small initiatives to help young people. That’s when I feel film is doing its job.

What advice would you give to aspiring directors?

Learn the craft—don’t rush. Watch films, study scripts, spend time on set even if it’s just to observe. Most importantly, stay humble and focused. Filmmaking is about patience, teamwork, and vision.

What should audiences expect from your upcoming projects?

Expect more powerful stories rooted in our culture, with better technical quality. I’m working on projects that tackle real societal issues, and I believe they’ll resonate with audiences not just in Arewa, but globally.

By Aisha Muhammad Rabiu

In many parts of Northern Nigeria, antenatal care is a vital step in ensuring the health of both mother and the unborn child. Yet, an increasing number of women are neglecting this crucial stage of pregnancy, putting themselves and their babies at serious risk, hence the high infant, mother mortality rate.

Health experts have been warning that antenatal visits help detect pregnancy complications at its early stage, provide essential supplements for healthy mother/child development, and educate mothers on safe delivery practices. But for some women, they find antenatal care as a burden either due to poverty or lack of awareness based on cultural practices and beliefs. As such antenatal remains a neglected priority.

In Kadawa, Fatima Sani, a 28-year-old expectant mother, admits she has not attended a single session of antenatal since the start of her pregnancy. she said “It’s not that I don’t want to go, but the clinic is far from my house, and my husband says we should save the transport money for delivery day. I just pray Allah protects me and my baby.”

From Dan Bare, Shago Tara precisely, Khairat a mother of 4 shares her reasons for not attending antenatal session even though she is fully aware that the session is very important to pregnant women. She said “I feel healthy, so I don’t see the need to go for antenatal. My mother gave birth to all her children at home without any clinic visits, and they all survived.”

In Rijiyar Zaki, Hadiza Mukhtar recalls her previous pregnancy, where she skipped antenatal visits entirely. “The nurses were rude to me when I first went. I decided I would not return. This pregnancy, I haven’t gone at all,” she confesses.

For Usaina Muhammad of Kurna, the problem is financial. “I can’t afford the registration fee, and I also have other children to feed. I know antenatal is important, but survival comes first.”

Meanwhile, Maryam Lawan of Layi Kaji reveals that misinformation has influenced her decision. “Someone told me that the iron tablets they give at the clinic make the babies grow too big, making delivery harder. So, I decided to avoid it altogether.”

Medical professionals emphasize that skipping antenatal care increases the risk of complications such as anemia, high blood pressure, infections, and even maternal or infant death. Dr. Ibrahim Musa, a gynecologist in Kano, warns: “We see many emergencies that could have been avoided if the mother had attended antenatal. Most of these cases arrive late, making it harder for the doctors to save lives.”

Experts and community leaders agree that raising awareness is key in addressing the matter. Antenatal care should be made more affordable, accessible, and culturally acceptable for all women. Religious leaders, health workers, and family members all have a role to play in encouraging expectant mothers to attend regular check-ups.

Neglecting antenatal care is not just a personal choice; it’s a public health concern that affects families, communities, and the future of the nation. Ensuring that every mother has the knowledge, resources, and support to seek antenatal care is a step toward a healthier society.

Aisha Muhammad Rabiu writes from Bayero University Kano (BUK) and she can be reached at Email: aishatama2020@gmail.com

Phone no.08084273341

Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad

I was recently listening to Sarki Sanusi’s excellent presentation titled “How to Stop Manufacturing Poverty,” where he remarked that the single silver bullet that could solve 70% of our problems in Africa would be the education of the girl child. This inspired this write-up. If you find this too long, you can skip to the last three paragraphs for my overall message.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you might have come across my mother’s story time and again. I will share it once more because it is a quintessential example of Sarki Sanusi’s assertion.

But before I go there, allow me to digress a bit to share another example of a mother being a role model and inspiring a generation. I used to think it was a coincidence, but it seems too perfect to be random that the same woman—Hajiya Mariya Sanusi Dantata—produced Aliko Dangote, Sayyu Dantata, and Sani Gote: three billionaires and established businessmen. At the very least, she must have given them the latitude to pursue excellence. Being the daughter of a wealthy man and a businesswoman herself, she likely had a clear vision of what excellence looked like—and instilled that in their upbringing.

She may not be literate, but she is certainly aware. From my few encounters with her, I found her to be smart, curious, and disciplined. She must have passed these traits on to her children, giving them a sense of purpose and drive.

Similarly, I remember listening to Abba Karfe (founder and chairman of the renowned Garba Karfe Investments, with interests spanning manufacturing and retail) and Sammani Adamu (chairman of El-Samad, a textile conglomerate) reflect on the roles their mothers played in their entrepreneurial journeys. Although they spoke at different times and on different topics, they both acknowledged how much their mothers encouraged their business pursuits.

On my end, I have also always seen my mother as another perfect example of the ripple effect of women’s empowerment. She raised six of us (one of whom is now late) all by herself. Circumstances led to her being married for only 13 of her 69 years. Her first marriage lasted nearly 11 years before she became a widow with five children. Her second marriage lasted only three years. So, at 23, she was an unemployed widow with no formal education, saddled with the responsibility of raising five children—three of whom were girls.

For the next 11 years, she would reinvent her life: learning how to read and write (through the then Agency for Mass Education), obtaining a university degree, and eventually securing a job. It was only then that she considered marriage again. But as fate would have it, it didn’t work out—though she left that marriage with the gift of one more child, the sixth and last. She has remained unmarried for the past 36 years, never glorifying singleness, but instead dedicating her life to building a career in civil service, raising her family, and engaging in genuine community service. Today, she sits on the board of one of the government agencies—nine years after her retirement.

Recently, during a conversation, she shared a reality I had always witnessed but never heard her express. For the first time, she said that the life she chose meant she had to forgo the comfort of being cared for by a man. In fact, she has very little memory of such care, save for her brother who had been a pillar but who passed away too early. She had to be both the man and the woman, living life without waiting for help or rescue. Occasionally, support would come, but it was never reliable. She told me there is no glory in widowhood or singlehood, but if life throws that at you, you can still build something remarkable.

Many times, I tell people that I find more inspiration in my mother’s life than in my father’s—even though the scale of his influence and impact is broader. From him, I learned honour, authority, and discipline. But from her, I learned courage, resilience, and audacious hope. Life set her up for failure, but she resisted. And what makes it even more remarkable is that she did it as a woman, with very little support.

As Sarki Sanusi mentioned, the future of our progress and development lies in the empowerment of women. Every single good you see in me comes from my mother. I take very little credit. I usually say I don’t have a story yet. I hope to build a remarkable life, but I use her light—the remarkable life she built for herself and for me—to shine. And that will continue until I’m able to build something equally remarkable.

Quite recently, I was listening to Naval Ravikant—the famous entrepreneur and investor—share his childhood experience. He said he initially aspired to be a scientist, specifically an astrophysicist. But his mother, observing his personality, told him she believed he would become a businessman. She noticed how he would critique businesses and their service processes. She had already seen a curious business mind in him. That insight planted the seed that grew into Naval the thinker, investor, and billionaire.

So, back to the topic: if we can instill enough ambition in women, it will filter down to their offspring—both male and female. This creates a community of ambitious individuals whose lives are rooted in excellence and determination, like the examples shared above. Had my mother not found a higher purpose in education and work, I might have become the sixth of 8–10 children she could have given birth to, making it more challenging to ration the little resources available and provide proper childcare.

Empowering women begins with educating them—formally or informally (especially for older women in underserved areas)—and giving them the latitude to live a dignified life. The bottom line is for a woman or girl to become aware—of herself, her environment, and the opportunities around her—and to aspire toward something meaningful. An unaware and unambitious woman is highly likely to pass that mindset on to her children or become a burden herself.

These stories are too perfect to be a coincidence. They represent a pattern and a model that can be replicated at scale: empower as many women as possible to live a dignified life, and they will empower the next generation.