By Aisha Ahmed
Kano – Hajiya Balaraba Ramat, a movie producer in Kannywood, has tasked women on investing in the film industry to further highlight their contributions in the development of the nation.
Kannywood is the sobriquet for the Hausa language cinema. It is a part of the larger Nigerian cinema, known as Nollywood, which includes other production centres producing films in many other Nigerian languages.
Ramat, who spoke with News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Kano, to commemorate the International Women’s Day, said that women should be encouraged to showcase their achievements and successes.
She explained that there are various issues affecting women that were either being ignored or downplayed in the society “which the women themselves could advance if they are part of the industry’s decision making body”
According to her, “Women in the industry have suffered gender differences in the early days the industry.”
“But things have changed now because the industry has under gone a lot of development; women participation in Kannywood was gradually being accepted unlike previously when it was seen as an alien culture.”
“However, a lot still needed to be done in order to address the lingering gender disparity.
Meanwhile, Ramat says her latest movie titled: `Juyin Sarauta”, highlighting the role of women in the Palace, will soon hit the market.
Furthermore, she appealed to governments at all levels to empower the women in the industry in order to give more women the chance to make a difference.(NAN)