Appraising The Pluses In Kate Henshaw’s Emergence As AGN’s National PRO (OPINION)

By Isaac Asabor

Without resorting to excessive adoration of Kate Henshaw in this context, it is expedient to say that she is one of the biggest names in the Nigerian movie industry, aptly called Nollywood, today, and is well known for her ageless beauty and charisma. Believe it or not, despite turning 51 last year, as she was born on July 19, 1971, the actress astonishingly looks ageless to the admiration of not a few of her fans, including this writer.

Kate Henshaw, to most Nigerians, is not just an actress, she is a role model that is been looked up to by not a few Nigerians, particularly the youths, and to so many people that have crossed her path in one way or the other. The reason for her likable disposition cannot be farfetched as she unarguably defiles nature by literarily refusing to age, and still having her beauty intact, and more often than not speaks truth to power, particularly when injustices are perpetrated against the helpless and the hapless.

The eldest of four children, Kate was born in Cross River State. After completing her primary and secondary education in Lagos and Calabar, she spent one year at the University of Calabar where she went through remedial studies. She later majored in Medical Microbiology at the School of Medical Lab Science, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, and also worked at the Bauchi State General hospital.

At this juncture, it will not be ill-advised for any reader of this piece to ask, “What is it about Kate Henshaw?” The answer to the foregoing question cannot be farfetched as the renowned veteran actress has been elected unopposed as the National Public Relations Officer of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).

The National Secretary of AGN, Abubakar Yakubu, who made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, said Henshaw was elected on January 9 with a by-election, during a special National Executive Council meeting to fill a few vacant posts.

According to him, “Henshaw will be in charge of disseminating strategic communication among guild and non-guild members.

It would be recalled that the AGN in November last year elected new National Executive Council members to steer the affairs of the body for three years.  The new leadership was elected at the end of the 2022 Nollywood Actors Summit of the guild held in Benin City, Edo where no less than 120 delegates from 20 states voted during the elections, which was held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub.

The election was supervised by NEC Chairman, Steve Eboh, and Emma Ogugua, Chairman Board of Trustees of the guild.

In the same nexus, the incumbent national president, Emeka Rollas was re-elected, while Nazareth Jesse, Marcus Maina, Bukky Fagbuyi, Clement Anigbo, and Moklese Osain emerged Vice Presidents for North-Central, North-East, South-West, South-East and South-South respectively.

Abubakar Sanusi won his bid to become the AGN Secretary-General, while Chelsea Nwodo emerged as Assistant Secretary of the guild.

Other elected executives are Emeka Duru as Financial Secretary, Oby Okafor as Treasurer, David Akuma as Director of Guild Services, and Kea Adams as Provost.

Given Henshaw’s likable disposition and her unarguable wealth of social capital, there is no denying the fact that the members and leaders of the AGN have literarily placed a round peg in a round hole in her person, particularly as the guild under the leadership of Emeka Rollas is committed to ensuring that all aggrieved members are united and encouraging unregistered actors to join the guild.

In fact, if there is any actress affiliated with the guild that has what it takes to be reaching out to the public for the establishment of goodwill and understanding between members of the public, and in the same vein deploying communication strategies that would ensure that members will not be fighting and that those that were fighting sheath their swords, she is unarguably Kate Henshaw.

Thus, it is expedient to ask in this context, “What are the advantages that are inherent in her emergence as the national Public Relations Officer of the guild?  The answer to the foregoing question cannot be farfetched as there are a number of advantages that AGN stands to benefit from as she is not a pushover as one of the key stakeholders in the Nigerian film industry that can be said to be relevant and have broad appeal. Being a renowned celebrity, she is no doubt going to naturally generate lots of positive attention for the benefit of the AGN.

In fact, she has an aura that can influence her teeming fans that are majorly youth to say, “Due to her affinity with AGN, and being the national PRO, then the guild must be a credible association to be associated with”, and “If the AGN is good enough for her, it’s good enough for me.” Those that are in the branding segment of the advertising sector, are not unfamiliar with the fact that this philosophy is often the impetus behind advertisements for makeup, skin creams, hair products, and attire. This is because consumers want the wavy hair of a local celebrity, for example. Hence, they purchase the brand that the celebrity uses to achieve her hair’s fullness and bounce. Local consumers may also desire the same soft drink as their team’s best football player. Essentially, the testimonial of a celebrity adds instant credibility to whatever he or she associates with.

Without any iota of exaggeration, her unmatched celebrity status and wide followership will unarguably help to further build the brand awareness of the guild, and even much faster than expected. For the sake of clarity, it is expedient to say that brand awareness measures the percentage of people that are familiar with a particular brand. Elsewhere, not a few associations spend lots of money and time for exposure to incrementally increase brand awareness among their target audience. Without a doubt, her emergence as the national PRO of the AGN is capable of doing much to enhance public awareness and understanding of what the Guild offers.

It is not unexpected in this context to say that not a few readers may ask if her predecessors are not as popular as she is. In as much as it is difficult to answer the foregoing question in the affirmative or otherwise, it will be wise enough to say that “There are celebrities, and there are celebrities but not all of them are celebrated by the same number of fans.” Clearly put, they are celebrated differently by different fans. Thus, what endears Kate Henshaw’s personality to the collective heart of a huge population of Nigerians, particularly among the youth is unique and peculiar that no one can take it from her.

Without a doubt, Kate Henshaw has the likable personality that is needed for positioning AGN and what it does in the best possible light in the minds of Nigerians, and foreigners alike. The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as she is a well-respected celebrity with a relatively uncontroversial disposition to manage how information about AGN is disseminated to the public, especially in the media industry where she unarguably has admirable goodwill. Thus, she is the proverbial round peg in a round hole that has what it takes to disseminate important news or events that concern AGN, maintain its brand image, and put a positive spin on negative events to minimize their fallouts. That her position entails relating with Journalists, Netizens, and other Nigerians in the course of disseminating AGN’s press releases, inviting them to news conferences, arranging interviews with journalists, and engaging in social media postings, there is no doubt that she has been elected into a position that complements with her brilliancy, beauty, boldness, cheerfulness, and her easygoing, and untroubled disposition which altogether makes her a personable personality. There is no denying the fact that for relating well with the youth that she has a good reputation within the Nollywood community. The foregoing, no doubt, will always make her message more believable in the course of her carrying out her duties as AGN’s national PRO.