Nigerian actor Sanusi Izihaq, popularly known as Apankufor or Apa, has credited Ibrahim Chatta for the continuity and success of his acting career.
During a recent interview with Biola Adebayo on the Talk to B podcast, Apa opened up about the challenges he faced before becoming an actor. He revealed that he initially worked as a continuity manager and struggled to establish himself in Nollywood.
Expressing his gratitude, Apa praised Chatta for standing by him and supporting his journey in the industry.
He revealed he worked in a bakery for years without having a roof over his head and with barely any support from his parents.
The actor also said his rise to fame didn’t come from acting at the beginning but as a Continuity Manager. The 30-year-old revealed that while his face was unknown because he worked behind the scene, his name was on almost every lip because of how talented he was.
Speaking on the challenges he has faced in Nollywood, Apa credited Ibrahim Chatta for refusing to let him give up on his acting career.
He disclosed that the ace actor had talked him out of quitting not less than thrice. In his words:
“Big shoutout to him (Ibrahim chatta), I should have left Nollywood if not for Ibrahim chatta.
Hope I’m not being too forward, God bless Ibrahim chatta. If not for him i should have left the industry…
On multiple occasions when you have older colleagues in the industry some of them begin to look down on you.
When i was still working as a continuity manager the fact is that i was more famous than some actors. Directors knew my name without my face and wondered who i was. Some directors even looked down on me.
I recall one experience when a director who had only heard about me vowed to deal with me. I had never worked with him before and I was eager to. I vowed to make his job easy. However things got a little tensed and my kind of person I despise toxic work environment, I believe in relating with love so I become emotional and I cry bitterly when things are tensed.
He (Ibrahim Chatta) has met me when I was crying on two to three occasions. Asking me what went wrong
I confided in him that I would leave the industry but he always advices against it and encourages me instead. On about 3 different occasions he urged me to come back when I already left film making. He even called me back to work on his project to ensure I don’t leave.”
Watch Apa speak below: