Kannywood Awards: When MTN Celebrates the Northern Stars

In 2013, MTN teamed up with major stakeholders in the Hausa genre of the flourishing Nigerian Movie industry to recognise and appreciate outstanding and exceptional practitioners in Kannywood, most especially those who have contributed immensely, to its development. 

It is widely acknowledged, that the Kannywood Movie and Music sector is a huge market which has in recent years, spread across Northern Nigerian towns and cities, while gaining fellowship among the Hausa communities, across West and Central Africa. 

 L-R,  Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Bayo Adekanmbi, Director General, National Broadcasting Commission Emeka Mba and Executive Director, Kano State Censors Board Ahmed Beli at the 2^nd Kannywood Awards in Abuja at the weekend

The advent of Africa Magic Hausa channel have also made the industry more popular, thus attracting more people to watch Hausa content in the whole of the African continent. These facts have undoubtedly made Kannywood an international brand.

Having featured prominently as major sponsors in the last edition of the Kannywood Awards, Nigeria’s leading ICT and Telecommunications Company, MTN, didn’t leave anything to chance in making this year’s edition another successful story. 

The NAF Conference Centre Abuja venue of this year’s edition was full with who is who in the Kannywood world. The Founder and President of Kannywood Awards, Ahmad Mohammed Sarari was full of gratitude to MTN for the sponsorship.”Words are not enough to thank MTN for its huge support since the inception of this award in 2013. It has really boosted the morale of the artistes and also encouraged them to do more”, he stated.

Also speaking during the event, MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, Bayo Adekanmbi, said the company will not relent in its effort in encouraging its subscribers to get better at whatever they do. “This is what we preach through our Be Better Campaign. It is our desire to see people getting better in whatever they do. Kannywood Awards is one of such platforms, where the lives of the people can be touched through their passion. As a company, we believe in creating excitement for the people while adding value to their lives in many positive ways”. 

The Kannywood Awards was created to acknowledge and celebrate the effort of outstanding practitioners and stakeholders in the Hausa genre of the Nigerian movie industry. Some of the Kannywood stars who clinched awards in this year’s edition includes Ali Nuhu and Nafisat Abdullahi who won the awards for the most popular actor and most popular actress respectively, while Sadiq Sani Sadiq and Hadiza Gabor won the awards for the best actor and the best actress respectively. Some of the dignitaries honoured with merit awards include Nigeria’s Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Almakura, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Prince Emeka Mba, The Director General, National Broadcasting Commission and HRH, Dr Ahmad Muhammad Sani, the Emir Of Gumel, Jigawa State among others. 

Emir of Gumel, JigawaState HRH Dr Ahmad Sani with Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Mr Bayo Adekanmbi at the 2^nd Kannywood Awards in Abuja at the weekend

L-R, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Mr Bayo Adekanmbi, Member of Gumel Emirate Council Alh Ahmed Aminu and Emir of Gumel, JigawaState HRH Dr Ahmad Sani with at the 2^nd Kannywood Awards in Abuja at the weekend

5L-R, Senior Manager Sales, North MTN Hajia Amina Usman, Senior Manager, Segment MTN Hajia Sadiat Lawal-Mohammed and Most Popular Kannywood Actor 2014, Mr Ali Nuhu at the 2^ndKannywood Awards in Abuja at the weekend