‘Female fans: I learn their tricks daily’

Weekend Magazine: Can you please introduce yourself?Vincent Opurum: My name is Vincent Opurum, I am from Imo State, Nwangele LGA, I came from a very humble home, a Christian background as well. I was born and bred in Kaduna State. I lost my father last year, but my mum still keeps me going, we are […]

Weekend Magazine: Can you please introduce yourself?
Vincent Opurum: My name is Vincent Opurum, I am from Imo State, Nwangele LGA, I came from a very humble home, a Christian background as well. I was born and bred in Kaduna State. I lost my father last year, but my mum still keeps me going, we are a loving and understanding family and God has blessed me through this career. I am from a family of five and I am the first child. I thank God where He has placed me so far.
All my education was done in Kaduna State. I started schooling with the St. Annes Nursery and Primary school, and then I went Hawad International School, though it no longer exists because the sole proprietress died, so I heard. Then I later moved to Kaduna Capital School.  I went to the higher institution for my degree programme which I am still going to extend more. Shortly after that I went into entertainment which has always been part of me. Entertainment has really taken over my life but now that God has proven Himself. I am going to extend my educational level, but that will be much later either next year or so.
How did you start acting movies?
Well, I would say it was a direction from God. I was  studying in the higher institution after my secondary education and I was responsible for myself all through. I went into business, I was ahead of my peers in business and I did it to further my education single handedly.
Initially, my father wanted me to become a pilot, but faith had it and I went to work for the KLM Airline one of the traveling agencies in Kaduna State then. They were formerly known as Bellview Airline before they became KLM. I was one of the people they were training under the Nigerian Airways then, but along the line a riot that broke out in the state messed up everything. After that, the KLM left and we weren’t lucky to be part of them again so that was how entertainment came in as an idea to me.
A friend of mine called me up to try my luck in the movie industry, I even went there late, like three days after they must have finished auditioning. One of the producers liked my performance and asked where I came from. Having introduced myself, I read their scripts and I was well learned, because I once worked with many foreigners during my training with the KLM Airline, so after the examination, he was so marveled that he asked me to take a walk down to the hall and come back and after that I was given a lead role to play.
Prior to that – because that was my first break as an actor-  my first attempt was while I was doing business, the producer that came up with the movie ‘Shameless Romance’, that was when Ramsey Nouah and Genevieve Nnaji visited Kaduna State for a movie, directed by Lancelot, I played a bar man, and I was so marveled the way Ramsey was treated and the way he was really looking. Everybody wanted to take a photograph with him; I stood on my own side watching him, because I wanted to part of what he does but not to be like him since he was my role model. That has been in my mind, I was still studying and I didn’t want to rush into things, but I knew when the time came for me.  I always love to put in my best in everything I do, I went into training in a film institute in Kaduna State to acquire more skills. I stood my grounds even as things went rough.
When did you start to discover the acting skills in you?
Because I come from a humble Christian home, I always pray, I prayed over my career. I know very well that I am one person who loves to make people around me happy and I love to solve people’s problems, I don’t know why, even while I was a student with the Nigerian Airways and we were doing our work as a travelling agent staff, we were still bringing smiles on people’s faces whenever they have trouble while travelling. So, all those things contributed because they are also part of entertainment; and since then my first appearance in a movie in Kaduna State made me a star.
How long have you been in the movie industry?
For 13 years now if I can recall, because I started acting in 1999 in Kaduna State then, so I should still count it in.
So far, how have your appearances in movies been received by people?
You cannot make yourself a star; it is people who will place you high. By virtue of the returns of what people say about me and even allowing the marketers count me among my colleagues is what matters, because it is the viewer that buys my movies and they also recommend it too, it is the viewers that appreciate my movie.
If you were not into movies, what would you be doing?
I would be an economist, I would like to become an international ambassador, and as I speak, I am about to go for my masters degree programme in that area, but everything is one step at a time. By God’s grace I would want to be Nigeria’s President someday.
Who are your role models?
Ramsey Nouah is one of my role models. And when it comes to the international scene, I would say its Leonardo DiCaprio, because when he is acting, he acts with his life, you could see the expression, you could see that he is not been forced to do it, it is part of him and I could see it all over him. These are the people I learn from, I watch a lot of their movies and when I do, I get to learn their skills and understudy them.
What is that thing you wouldn’t give up for anything in this would?
It is entertainment. I cannot give up entertainment for anything, and with entertainment I can still be an ambassador, I can still become a renowned economist, these are the things that are lacking in the world today, but it is well.
As someone who grew up in the north, what do you have to say about the insecurity situation there now?
The most important thing is that there is nobody that does not like life, but what I understood is that it is not the indigenes that are causing this problem, they are all foreigners. Also I would say because the true Nigerian is so relaxed that is why this problem is still there. Nigeria is the best country to live in, and also a true Hausa man that I know loves his comfort, they love to stay in a cozy place where they would get their prayers done properly and move on with business. If you compare, our kind of life is different from theirs, and the worst part of it is that they are using the youths, because an elderly and educated man will not think of this. It is the youth that does not know his left from right and end up thinking that setting on fire is the best way.
Nigerians are the best and most intelligent in the world and by the time they target on the youths and change their mentality, they will use it for evil and it is that way they will use against them. It is very terrible and so unfortunate and I hope and pray things will change for good. The youths have to be engaged positively, very soon God will hear us.
What are the challenges you face in the movie industry?
What we are facing generally is greed, because I know that the government is trying to assist us, but when one or two persons gain the opportunity to stand for us, they end up doing it in their own interest. I know gradually the good ones are getting there to make things more transparent for others to follow, because if you are thoroughly your brother’s keeper, you will want to make things easy for others to get there. Also, what we really need in the industry is finance and by the special grace of God things will be better.
What are the fond memories you had while growing up?
The memorable thing I still thank God for was the sound education I acquired while I was growing up. Education from the scratch goes a long way, because whatever you learnt while you were a child is not something one can forget easily. Education is the key to success, because it helps you to understand everything around you.
How do you handle your female fans?
It is not easy, every day I keep learning their tricks. Life is a school and God is helping me out.
What is your definition of style?
I dress according to my mood and I don’t like putting on what is in vogue, I love to put on something unique and nice.
What do you have to say to your fans?
I would say they should always keep at what they do and they should have a pure heart at all time because that is the major thing. I will always do my best to make them proud of me. I love them all.