Hadiza Aliyu, popularly known as Hadiza Gabon, is a Nigerian professional actress and filmmaker who acts in both Nollywood and Kannywood. The Libreville, Gabon born actress, speaks on her charity foundation among other issues.
Weekend Magazine: Not much seems to be seen of Hadiza Gabon lately. What is happening with Hadiza?
Hadiza Gabon: I’m very much around and very much active in the film-making industry ever since I made my debut in 2009 in the movie Artabu as one of the leading female stars. Since then I have been very active in the industry as a professional actress.
It has been very wonderful and I am grateful to God for seeing me through all this while.
DT: What would you say is your greatest discovery in your acting career?
Hadiza: I can say the realisation of the importance of showing care, love and affection between people and the benefit of doing that has been one of the greatest discoveries I have ever made. One of the greatest things that brings me happiness and takes away my worries and pain is to put a smile on the faces of the vulnerable. I discovered that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
It is very significant to note that a little effort that someone makes, which at the end may result in making great differences to the lives of people, will be remembered as an act of righteous and good deed. We should always try to the best of our ability to uplift the lives of the poor and needy among ourselves.
DT: Tell us more about your life.
Hadiza: I was born on the 1st June, 1989; I attended primary and secondary schools in my birth country. However, when I sat for my examination, I wrote with an aspiration of becoming a lawyer and later I chose Law as my favourite degree course.
I started my university year as a student of law, but I had to drop out of school due to some issues that trailed my studies. My education pursuit was halted then and that gave me the opportunity to attend a diploma programme in French Language, and later became a French-language teacher in a private school.
DT: Was acting what you really wanted as a child?
Hadiza: It was while in Nigeria that I developed the interest in joining the film-making industry and with assistance from Ali Nuhu and Aminu Saira, my involvement with the industry has become a success story today.
DT: Do you have any other passion asides?
Hadiza: Yes of course, I have a passion to assist people and that’s was why in 2016, I founded a charitable organisation called HAG Foundation. The foundation was founded with the aim of improving the lives of ordinary people by providing help in their educational and healthcare sectors as well as food security in the little way that I can.
Though, I do not want to believe the accretion, I was told the establishment of the foundation was the first to be done by an actress in Kannywood. Whatever the case may be, I am keen in offering humanitarian assistance to people.
I strongly urge people to embrace the habit of mutual love; that is when we love one another, care for one another and support one another, chances are that our society will get rid of enmity and hatred. People will prosper when love, affection and support for each other become noticeable and spread all over.
The fight against social vices in our society will definitely reduce if we consolidate mutual assistance. We will live in peace; we have to tolerate each other among ourselves. Everybody has a role to play in spreading and expressing mutual love and assistance. At this point, I call on my colleagues in the industry, that is Kannywood, especially those that are successful and have made a remarkable achievement to look at the upcoming ones by rendering them any form of assistance. This will bring mutual respect and pave the way for making progress among ourselves.
In March 2016, I visited an internally displaced person’s camp in Kano State and I donated food items, textile materials and other commodities to the displaced persons. Ever since I vowed never to stop until I can do no more.
DT: What would you say are your successes as an actress?
Hadiza: In 2013, I was named Best Actress at the 2013 best of Nollywood Award and I was barely a few years into the film industry. I also won the 2nd Kannywood /MTN Award in 2014. Similarly, based on the recognition of my distinguished career as an actress, I was awarded an honour in 2013 by the former Kano State Governor Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and I am also a recipient of an award by African Hollywood Awards as Best Actress.
DT: Do you have any regret as an actress?
Hadiza: Life is full of ups and downs, and also life is full of challenges. Therefore, as an actress, I cannot say I have any regret because acting is what I do as a profession and I like what I am doing.
DT: Is Hadiza Gabon married or into any serious relationship?
Hadiza: I am not married and for being in any form of a relationship, this is a subject I rather not discuss here. However, when it is time for my fans to know all that they need to know, I will definitely do that but for now, let us leave it the way it is. Hadiza is not married but she will, by God’s grace, get married when the time comes.
