'Zeal to excel' I started as a video club owner, Corporate Pictures boss reveals (COVER)

The story of film marketing in Nigeria will never be complete without mentioning Corporate Pictures, a firm that has pumped over thirty years into ensuring the success of the entertainment industry. Abdullahi Abdulrasaq, the marketing guru boss, who sits atop the company told Freelanews that the determination to excel was the needed tonic to life success.

In an exclusive interview with VICTOR OJELABI, the humble, open minded and reserved boss of the frontline entertainment marketing in Nigeria opened up about his life and career. Excerpts…

Who is Abdullahi Abdulrasaq?
I am a native of Ilorin, Kwara State. I’m the chief executive officer of Corporate Pictures, a chartered accountant and happily married man with children.

How has your journey been?
Like I said earlier I am a native of Ilorin in Kwara State, I graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with BSc (Hons) in Accounting. Aside from being a fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria as well as the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, I am also a lecturer and author. I’m also a co founder of a leading ICAN tuition house in Nigeria, financial consultant and a business man.

How did Corporate Pictures come to be?
We started as a video club before venturing into joint movie production and finally marketing/ distribution business.

Looking back over the years, what advice will you give your younger self?
To be focus and have strong determination to succeed.

With the challenges you face daily in your career, how will you say you ensure that the home-front doesn’t suffer?
I ensure one doesn’t disturb the other and with the help of a wonderful wife and understanding family because my job as a distributor, consultant and lecturer are time consuming.

What experience always stood out whenever you reflect about your career and which do you think you could have handled better?
My determination to excel kept me afloat.

How did you overcome piracy especially during the time of VHS and VCD?
We just managed to minimise it, not really easy at all because as you exposed pirates from this angle, they will come out from another angle. It was really a challenging scenario and up till now we are still battling them on a daily basis.

What was the transition from VHS to DVD and then to Youtube like to you?
As a businessman, you must evolve with new situation as it unfolds otherwise one will lag behind. Whatever the format or main of distribution, we are always there because we must be on top of the game all the time. Now that we are in digital age, at Corporate Pictures, we ensure we satisfy all our customers. So whether it is digital or analogue, we are still selling DVD and our presence is also high on digital marketing.

How has the new media impacted your business of film marketing?
We are making use of it positively to enhance our presence and position.

What is the worst rumour you have heard of yourself as films marketer?
Rumours come with the territory so I don’t allow such to distract me from my focus and objectives.

How will you rate the state of the nation?
The economic situation is really tough and with COVID-19, there is more tougher time ahead but I just hope our leaders will continue to take the right decision for the populace.

How do you balance your duty as an author, a lecturer and your commitment to Corporate Pictures?
I try as much as possible to ensure none of the business affect the other negatively and so far I have been achieving efficient results from all angles.

What is your view of the entertainment industry in Nigeria?
We have improved tremendously in the industry but I am sure there is still a lot of room for improvements.

It’s a key sector that government should focus on by injecting necessary finance because of its effect on job creation to a lot of people. It may also be a source of huge earners of foreign currency to the country if properly nurtured and harnessed.

Do you see yourself picking up politics as career in future?
No, I don’t have mental strength for politics.

Five years from now, what would you say the future of movie and music marketing would in Nigeria?
It will continue to get stronger. We have moved up from where the industry was some years back so I expect serious growth and improvement in the years to come.

Tell us your take on COVID-19?
It’s a world wide challenge and the fear is we may not have our normal life again until a vaccine or cure is available. So in the interim, we must take all action to stay alive. We must take responsibility by following the necessary guidelines.

Economically, it is impacting and will continue to impact negatively on Nigeria economy as well as world economy but we will come out stronger because it has open our eyes to a lot of shortcomings and I am sure will be addressed.