Young actresses like Azizat Sadiq are rare in Nollywood. Actresses whose plus-points are not only visible in their carriage on the screens but also seen and sensed in their attractiveness out of set.

From the sets of Amstel Malt Box Office, AMBO 1 in Lagos, to Sitanda in Jos, and Wetin Dey in Abuja, Azizat has been through some sort of 'College of Education' where she has learnt and improved her how-to-be-a-topnotch-actress, skills, and has 'graduated' with a how-not-to-date-a-Nollywood-actor experience.

In this interview, Azizat Sadiq talks about her childhood years, about the death of her parents, about her relationship that went sour with a Nollywood actor, and of course, her Abuja based boyfriend…

You've not been talking about him, but who is your boyfriend?
Well, I have somebody. He is a very private person. A lot of time when I invite him to public functions, he's like 'I will come', and then, he doesn't come. I think it's because he doesn't want to be in the limelight yet. I think that is the reason. He is not into showbiz. I think he likes his privacy, which is cool by me, which is fine by me. I think another reason is that most of the shows I go to are in Lagos while he is based in Abuja. So because of his work, he can't come.

Is he an actor?
No, I don't want to date an actor. For me, I don't think it will work. It's good if you know yourself, and you know what won't work for you. I have tried dating someone before in the industry, but it did not work.

You did?
Yes, I had a boyfriend once (before AMBO 1) but it didn't work.

You want to tell who he is?
I won't tell you. He is Yoruba but he acts English movies.

Who do you blame for the break up, you or him?
When a relationship fumbles, I don't think the fault should be blamed on one party. I think both of us had our faults. It was probably more of his. Maybe we didn't take time to build our friendship, first. We just jumped into the relationship, and then it backfired. …I don't want to make the same mistakes twice, so I can't date an actor.

How would you describe your ideal man?
Well, I like a man who takes his time to listen. I like a guy who's gentle who is kind. Who is supportive of what I do. Who is tender, someone who takes his time to understand me. Then, he has to be caring and he must love God because I want someone who will encourage me and help me grow spiritually. If he has these attributes, then, fine.

What would you be doing in five years?
I think, five years from now, I want to start producing and directing my stuff. I will also be featuring in my production. I would love to have set up my NGO (non-governmental organization). I love to have I think I should be more settled and stable than I am right now. In five years time, I should have gone to school and I should have finished. Hopefully by the grace of God, in five years from now, I should have started helping orphans.

In five years time, you should be married, right?
Yes, I should be married and have two kids, maximum.

Two kids? Why just two kids?
You don't know how painful that thing is. It is very painful, man. From what I've seen and the way I have seen people talk about it, it can be very painful. So, I don't want to go through that experience more than twice. But then, it depends on what my husband wants.

In your childhood days, what can you remember about your parents?
I can't remember any particular incident. I just remember that my daddy used to take us out a lot. I was daddy's girl. I wasn't particularly mummy's girl because I was too stubborn for her and she was a disciplinarian. But daddy used to take us out and he used to give us money. He was working a lot so he had to leave home. What I'm very happy about in my childhood is that my dad was always trying his best to be there for us.

Sorry, your parents are late. Can you still remember your last moment with them?
When I lost my mum, I was too young; I didn't know anything. I never had a last moment with her, it's sad. She was ill, she fell into a coma and she was taken to a hospital. I remembered going to church and praying for her to be healed. That was the time when they said they saw the statue of Mary at St. Leo's Church. And I remember people telling me that whatever I wanted, if I went there and asked I would get it. I went there and I prayed and I said, 'God please don't let my mum die. Please let her come back to me'. But she passed on.

I guess God has His reasons for whatever happened. ten years after, Dad had stroke and passed on as well. I had a misunderstanding with my uncle that time, and I didn't want to speak with him ever again. I went to see my dad and he told me, just before I left him, to make peace with my uncle, which I did. And it was my uncle that came to tell me that my dad has passed on.

Which of them gave you your name?
My mum named me Akeye and said it means, 'whatever God gives, He takes.' She wanted a boy and she got a girl instead. But she still values a baby girl so she was grateful for what the Lord has given her. Azizat is the name my father gave me. It's actually a name of God, the name of Allah. I think it is taken from the name, Abdulazeez, which means 'the mighty one'. And I have not changed it, and I don't want to change it because every time somebody calls me, the person actually prays for me and speaks serious things into my life.

What lessons did you learn from them, while they lived?
My mum taught me how to save. That's one good thing I remembered about my mother.
From her, I learnt to handle responsibilities. I learnt to save and I learnt to take care of my younger ones. Those are like lifelong, very important lesson today. And from my father when I told him I was coming into the industry, he told me to be very careful because people may take advantage of me. It is not only peculiar to the movie industry; it's happens in life generally. He told me to be careful and he supported my decision to go into acting. It wasn't easy without them but I thank God it has made me a stronger person today.

Wherever they are do you think your parents will be proud of who you are today?
I can only pray that they are proud of me. I have tried. I have struggled. I have tried to make a name for myself. I have taken good care of my brothers. I have pulled my brothers through school single-handedly. And they have become better people. One of my brothers read International Relations. I want him to earn his Masters degree. Maybe, someday, he might become an ambassador or something. The other one is reading Computer Engineering and he just got his Oracle certificate. I know that I have tried with my brothers. It's not easy for a young girl to raise two men. I'm happy I have done that. And I'm going to improve myself as well so that in future I can help those orphans and motherless babies who have been through the same predicament like me.

Which has been your happiest birthday ever?
Oh, the last one I did. I didn't know what to do for my birthday and all of a sudden it just clicked… 'Why don't you go to an orphanage? Why don't you share that moment with them – children like you? So, I went to Little Saints Orphanage. They were so happy. We cut the cake together. They sang for me, and they still call me up till today. And, yes, they are my sisters, I been through the same thing they are experiencing.

What negative impressions about you, you'd like to correct?
Some people think I am a snub. I think people form their own opinion. But I am not a snub for people that have given me chance and have worked with me. If I walked up to you and you have a smile on your face for me, I have a smile and an embrace for you. Some people just look at you from far off. They look at you from outside in, and you can't always correct the impression. I'm a very simple person but I like to be blunt. So, what you see is what you get.