UPDATED: APC chieftain donates money, laptops, mobile studios to northern artistes

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasiru Danu, has given out money and other items to some northerners in the entertainment industry.

Mr Danu made the donation through his non-governmental organisation, Nasiru Haliru Danu (NHD) Foundation, which hosted the artistes from the northern part of the country at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Wednesday.

At least 30 new laptop computers and mobile studios were given to some of the artistes who attended the event themed “Year 2022 Night of Recognition and Empowerment of the Entertainment Community.”

The event was witnessed by some dignitaries including four ministers, namely the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Abubakar and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo.

Also in attendance was a former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Tukur Buratai.

Reminiscing his relationship with Mr Danu, Mr Buratai said he is not surprised at the APC chieftain’s widely acclaimed act of generosity as he (Danu) had displayed it through the mentorship of his son.

While Mr Abubakar described Mr Danu as a “people’s person,” Mr Amaechi praised his philanthropic gesture.

On his part, Mr Keyamo said Mr Danu is a die-hard lover of the entertainment industry and that he has spoken about the industry during several meetings with him.

He said the NHD Foundation founder’s philanthropic activities aided the acceptance of President Muhammadu Buhari in the entertainment industry in the run-up to the 2015 General Elections.

“Before trying to organise his philanthropic activities into something this formal, he has done far more than this.

“Anytime we sit together, he always talks about the entertainment industry. He rallied the entertainment industry behind President Mohammadu Buhari in 2015,” Mr Keyamo said.

Mr Danu told journalists at the event that he is just being himself at the same time contributing his quota to the development of the nation, especially the youth.

As a lover of the entertainment industry, the philanthropist said his aim for giving out the mobile studio is to ease music production and reward creativity.

“One thing is that we have created a huge economy. Each one person can produce music from anywhere. You don’t have to be in a studio. You can produce anywhere – your hotel. So, this is a way of giving back,” Mr Danu said.

One of the beneficiaries of the laptops who identified herself as Amina Ala, extended her appreciation to Mr Danu and vowed to do better in her creative output.

Another beneficiary of mobile studio, Sani Sabo, also looks forward to utilising the gadget to improve on his creative works.

“This set of mobile studio will help us improve our creative works,” Mr Sabo, who is a music artiste, said in his remarks.

Beyond his affiliation to the ruling party, the philanthropist and businessman, Mr Danu, is one of the top players in the oil and gas sector in the country.

His company, Casiva, which specialises in security, civil and mechanical construction, was listed among the 15 consortia contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to see to the exchange of crude oil for imported petroleum products in 2019/2020, a privilege many said was as a result of his closeness with Mr Buhari.