Ajala Jalingo: Hamzat would be blessing to Nollywood

BY AJIBADE ALABI

In an industry where doors are often shut and phones are often switched off, one name has consistently stood out for his open-door policy and genuine love for the creative space – Alhaji Hamzat.

For years, Hamzat has not just been a spectator of Nollywood’s growth; he has been a quiet partner. From Lagos to Asaba, from Kannywood to Yoruba movie locations in Ibadan and Osogbo, industry insiders speak of a man who picks calls, honors invitations, and shows up. Not with cameras, not for photo-ops, but to listen, to support, and to encourage.

He identifies with the entertainment industry generally. Producers will tell you how he has stepped in to resolve location challenges. Actors will recall how he offered words of advice when they were down. Skit makers and music talents in Osun, Ogun, Lagos up to Kogi know him as “Egbon wey dey respond.”

This is rare. Many public figures avoid entertainers until election time. Hamzat has been there in-season and off-season. That is why the whispers in Nollywood today are loud: “Hamzat would be a blessing to this industry.”

What does that blessing look like? It looks like accessibility. In a country where creatives struggle to reach decision-makers, Hamzat is easily accessible. His line goes through. His gate is open. He understands that entertainment is not just “play” – it is employment, it is culture, it is Nigeria’s biggest export after oil.

As Nollywood expands and seeks deeper partnership with government and private sector, it needs friends who understand both worlds. Friends who won’t promise and disappear. Friends who see value beyond votes.

From all indications, Hamzat is that friend. And if the industry ever needed a blessing, it is a man who has always identified with it, long before it was fashionable.

The creative industry waits. The door Hamzat opened has not closed.