It was indeed a gathering of Kannywood’s most influential and prominent entertainment practitioners in Kano on Sunday September 21st, 2014 at the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Lecture Series (NEILS) organized by Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Scheme (NEIHIS) convention to herald the eventual roll out of the scheme from the northern region of the country.

The event which was held at the General Ramat Murtala Conference Hall in Ni’imah Hotel, Kano had in attendance renowned artistes and actors like; Sani Danja, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Tumba Bubukan, Aisha Ibrahim, representatives from the Arewa Film Makers Association of Nigeria (AFMAN) led by the President, Abdullahi Sani, representatives from Guild of Directors led by the President, Nasir Gwangwazo, representatives from Guild of Directors led by the President, Aminu Sara and many others. It was indeed one of the biggest gatherings of entertainment stakeholders from that region.

Officials from two of the three partners HMOs for the scheme; Healthcare International and United Healthcare gave an insight via multimedia projections into the benefits of health insurance as well as the uniform and customized plans (standard and Ultra) for the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Scheme (NEIHIS) after the welcome address and speech by the initiators led by Mr. Seun Apara.

Attendees took turns to ask several mind boggling questions they had concerning the workings of the scheme and were all adequately responded to. They were also provided with educative materials in the form of brochures, pamphlets etc.

The major stakeholders who were present at the convention lauded the initiative and were particularly fascinated that it was specifically customized to meet the health need of all entertainment industry practitioners nationwide no matter where they practiced. It was also very well received as a welcome and positive development towards putting an end to the degrading incidences of prominent artistes and actors appealing publicly for funds to cater for their heavy medical bills under emergency situations.

The President of Arewa Film Makers of Nigeria (AFMAN), Mr. Abdullahi Sani who was one of the panelists described the scheme as the best innovation so far to safeguard the future of the Nigerian entertainment industry. “On behalf of all the members of Arewa Film Makers that constitute the Northern film industry in Nigeria popularly known as Kannywood, I want to thank NEILS for this brilliant initiative and pledge that all our members and in extension, the whole film community in Kannywood will come under the scheme”. The Presidents of Guild of Directors, Mr. Aminu and that of Producers Associations of Nigeria, Mr. Nasir Gwangwazo who were both part of the panelists also took turns to applaud the scheme and pledge the full support of the entire entertainment practitioners in the North. Season actor and musician, Sani Danger who gave the welcome address said he’s happy this is happening in his time. “I don’t think any same human should ignore this brilliant initiative that will collectively safeguard our future. I remember how we lost a particular actor not too long ago because of a little amount less than N50, 000. This is our future and we all must embrace it”.

A three man committee was immediately set up to liaise with the NEILS secretariat (conveners of the convention) to relate the information and coordinate effectively the enrollment of all Kannywood practitioners as soon as possible.

Since the flag off edition of the NEILS organized by Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Convention which was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island on the 22nd of July 2014, a nationwide sensitization has begun to educate and better inform practitioners on the immense benefits of enrolling under the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Scheme (NEIHIS) especially as it will guarantee them automatic access to the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Trust Fund (NEIHTF) being set up in extreme cases of medical care. NEILS executives were also in Abeokuta, Ogun State and Ibadan, Oyo State last week to take part in the national executives meeting of Theatre Arts & Movie Practitioners of Nigeria (TAMPAN) and Association of Nigerian Theater-Arts Practitioners (ANTP) respectively as part of the ongoing nationwide sensitization of the entertainment industry.