mimi haaga © I am Benue 2019

Setting Up A Film School and Acting Village in Benue State Is My Goal – Mimi

Creatives, Stories 16/02/2019 by Mimi Haaga

My name is Mimi Haaga. I am from Gboko Local Government of Benue State, I was born Three decades ago in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, growing up was quite an experience. My dad was in the railway, so we travelled a lot from State to State. We lived in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu and a few other places.  I didn’t like moving because I had to make new friends and lose old ones every time we moved and that proved to be quite a challenge but looking back now, I am benefitting from experiencing so many cultures and traditions. I had my primary school in Lagos and Enugu and my secondary school was done in Federal Government Girl College Lejja Nsukka, Enugu. I can fluently speak Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa and my native dialect Tiv language. So anywhere I find myself in Nigeria I feel right at home.

A lot of us have sound projects but we don’t get the listening ears of persons who can give it life.  

Acting has always been my first love right from primary school. I liked the feeling that you can be personality other than yours for a while and get accolades for it. I was in several schools plays in primary and secondary school and my love never diminished. I grew up idolizing the Sandra AchumsLiz BensonRegina Askia and I wanted to do what they do. 

It’s been a journey to get to where I am in life now and I am still far from my destination. What I imagined would be an easy journey turned out to be auditions and more auditions to no avail. The competition is super high and breaking through has been an arduous task, but we must keep up. 

I started Mimihagz Productions with a friend and we were able to produce our first movie earlier this year. Its titled “Thrive” and its currently showing on African Magic urban. It was tough getting the movie done as funding proved to be very difficult to come by. We wrote several proposals, approached several high network individuals and got a lot of refusals but we kept the faith and eventually ‘Lekki  Gardens‘ liked what we were about and sponsored the movie. It featured a few notable faces i.e. Yemi BlaqChita AgwuBlessing Onwukwe. 

One of the major challenges in this acting industry is getting individuals and corporate organizations to believe in you and be willing to take the risk by investing in you. A lot of us have sound projects but we don’t get the listening ears of persons who can give it life. I am presently working on a movie project that I am very passionate about because the story is one that is close to home. It’s a story that is based on true events.

mimi haaga © I am Benue 2019
Mimi Haaga © I am Benue 2019

My goal is to create job opportunities for citizens of Benue by setting up a film school and an acting village in Benue State.

It’s about a 12-year-old girl from Benue State, who loses everything and everyone she has ever know in one night as a result of an attack on her village. It follows her journey after the tragic incident and how she was able to overcome. It’s been a challenge getting funding for it yet again. After several proposals to no avail, we did a promotional video and started a campaign on crowdfunding platform called gofund me ( Please fund me ) are believing that with this platform and other campaigns we would get funds to make this movie.  The movie also aims to showcase the Tiv culture to the large audience in Nigeria and the diaspora as we hope to submit the movie to international festivals. By showing it at international festivals we are hoping to gather more humanitarian support for internally displaced persons in Benue. 

My goal is to create job opportunities for citizens of Benue by setting up a film school and an acting village in Benue State. More talents can be discovered within the state through this means. I am proud to be from Benue and I wish we can get more support from our more successful brothers, sisters, fathers. Carry us your younger ones along. Teach us to fish, look into our proposals and support us and we will make you proud. Thank you! 

4 thoughts on “Setting Up A Film School and Acting Village in Benue State Is My Goal – Mimi

  1. Pamela

    I’ll really love to be like you…I know how to act perfectly well

    Reply
  2. Stephanie Doocivir Igba

    Hi, am Stephanie Doocivir Igba from Benue state, Buruku local government. I studied philosophy in Benue state university makurdi am professional makeup artist of both Beauty and special effect SFX and an intended actress.
    I love your zeal I pray God should lead and support you in the actualization of this wonderful project. I also pray that when it come to pass you won’t forget some of us like me.

    Reply
  3. Israel

    This is truly Awesome. Your plans, ideas and heart desires are very positive and it’s what the world really needs.
    I’ve also loved the idea of acting for a long while and will be happy to feature in a movie one day (Hopefully your’s).
    Keep it up with the good intentions ?

    Reply
  4. Adah Veronica

    That’s so good. I am really interested in acting right from childhood and I’m from Benue State

    Reply

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