Humility Personified AGN President: Abubakar Hankuri Yakubu’s Vision,Ushers In A New Era For Nigerian Film Industry – SIXT-MEDIA LANE
…….Kaduna’s Gift to Nollywood Abubakar Hankuri Yakubu Sanusi
When the votes were counted and the hall erupted in applause, it was more than an election victory, it was a homecoming. Abubakar Hankuri Yakubu Sanusi, the Ahmadu Bello University alumnus, a Kaduna-born actor, and a name that commands quiet respect across television, film, and stage for over 25 years, is now the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
For colleagues who have shared sets with him from Kannywood to Nollywood, the result was no surprise. “Hankuri” as he is fondly called is humility personified, a quintessential gentleman per excellence whose word is his bond. Yet behind that calm demeanor is a strategist who understands both the craft and the business of acting in a digital, global age.
25 YEARS OF CREDIBILITY:
Yakubu’s journey began in the theatre halls of ABU Zaria, where he cut his teeth as a stage actor before crossing into television drama in the early 2000s. Over two decades, he has built a filmography that spans Hausa-language cinema, mainstream Nollywood blockbusters, and socially driven stage productions. Directors call him “a producer’s dream”, always early, always prepared, always elevating the scene. Younger actors call him “Uncle Hankuri,” the mentor who corrects without crushing confidence.
WHY MEMBERS VOTED FOR HIM:
His election reflects two things: longstanding dedication to the Guild, and a deep confidence in his capacity to lead. As former AGN Kaduna Chapter Chairman and later National Secretary, Yakubu is credited with digitizing dues payments, negotiating the first group health insurance scheme for Northern-based actors, and opening quiet backchannels between Kannywood and Nollywood producers.
“He listens first, then he leads,” says veteran actress Hadiza Mohammed. “That’s rare.”
THE VISION: Government + Global
Yakubu’s mandate is clear and ambitious. He brings what the Guild needs most now, the capacity to bring both government and international presence to the affairs of AGN.
HIS 5-POINT AGENDA FOR AGN:
1. Welfare First: Finalize the AGN Pension and Health Trust Fund within 12 months, so no actor retires into hardship.
2. One Industry, One Voice: Bridge the creative divide between Kannywood, Nollywood, and the emerging skit-making economy. “We are one guild, one Nigeria,” Yakubu insists.
3. Global Distribution Deals: Partner with international streamers and film markets in Cannes, Toronto, and Dubai to secure better licensing terms for Nigerian actors.
4. Government Partnership: Work with the Ministries of Arts, Culture, and Digital Economy to classify acting as a professional service, unlocking grants, tax breaks, and co-production treaties.
5. Capacity & Standards: Establish AGN Academies in the six geopolitical zones to train actors in screen business, contract law, and digital monetization.
The Man Behind the Mandate who chooses humility and simplicity above all;
Ask him about the title “President” and he waves it away. “I am still Hankuri, the same man who carries his own chair to location,” he laughs. That humility is his superpower. In an industry often defined by ego, Yakubu’s brand is service. He returns calls. He shows up at burials. He mentors without charging a fee.
Yet make no mistake, he is a tough negotiator. Colleagues recall how he led AGN’s team that secured residual payments for actors on a major streaming platform some times ago, the first deal of its kind in West Africa.
A Call to Members and Nigerians;
The task ahead is heavy: piracy, poor distribution, typecasting, and the mental health toll of the profession. But Yakubu believes the Guild’s strength is its people. “If government sees us united, the world will see us as bankable,” he told members after his swearing-in. “Support me, and I will give you an AGN that your children will be proud to inherit.”
From Zaria lecture theatres to the national stage, Abubakar Hankuri Yakubu has never forgotten where he came from. Now, as National President, he is asking Nigeria’s actors and Nigeria itself to walk with him into a new era where talent meets structure, and where Nigerian stories command global respect.
The curtain has risen. The new act begins.
Amb Prince Sixtus Opara, Publisher / Media Consultant, Public Affairs Analyst, Filmmaker, Defence / Police Correspondence and CEO Sixt-Media Lane Consult Ltd, the Publishers of sixtmedialane.com online leading Newspapers, writes from Abuja- Nigeria. +2349077706166 and +2348036562634.
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