Habiba Zock-Sock

EARLY LIFE

Habiba Zock-Sock (née Tanko) was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, and grew up there. She has spoken about how life in Kaduna shaped her values of simplicity, community, and everyday storytelling. She attended Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, Abuja, for secondary school and later studied Theatre and Performing Arts (Performing Arts: Theatre) at Ahmadu Bello University. She has fond memories of her father, describing him as “the sweetest human being.” She began her professional acting career in 2012 with her first audition in Kaduna, where she was cast in a lead role in the Hausa film Kaddara ce (filmed in Kujama), working alongside experienced actors including Ismail Koli Ishaq, Jamila Nagudu, the late Hauwa Maina, and her lecturer Salihu Bappa.

CAREER

Habiba began professional acting in 2012 and has maintained consistency despite breaks to balance family and work. She emphasizes formal training, continuous classes, and coaching (including under Stella Damasus) as key to standing out. She has worked in films, short films, series, web series, and commercials, and has also worked as a TV presenter and formerly as an On Air Personality / news broadcaster at Liberty Radio, Kaduna, and as an Inter-personal Communication Agent with the Society for Family Health, Nigeria. Her notable films include Hakkunde (2017, Reporter), If I Am President (2018, Zina’s Team), Voiceless (2020, Kauna), Rebellion (2021, Kifaya), The Burial of All Women (2022), Beyond the Veil (TV series, as Surrayah; 2022–2023/2024), With Difficulty Comes Ease (2024, as Maimuna), Salamatu’s Rhapsody (2024, as Hajara Abubakar / Salamatu’s Mother), For Amina (2025, as Amina), The Presidency (2025, as Adesuwa), The Yard (2025 TV series, as Jacinta), Fshn Grl (TV series, as Hope), Sa’adatu (completed 2026) She is noted as part of a wave of Northern Nigerian actresses working to present more authentic, dignified, and multi-dimensional portrayals of Northern women on screen.

PERSONAL LIFE

She is married to Shehu Zock-Sock and has publicly discussed adopting the surname after about eight years of marriage (her maiden name is Habiba Tanko, which she still holds dear as her father’s name). She is a mother and creates mother-child content. She lives in Kaduna South and has spoken about balancing family life with a mobile acting career that requires frequent travel for auditions and shoots. She is a fitness enthusiast and has referenced her Christian faith (Philippians 4:13). She enjoys peace and quiet and watching movies that make her laugh or cry.

She prioritizes consistency, continuous learning, and a positive mindset. She has described challenges of a mobile career and the importance of balancing family with professional demands. She is active in fitness content and mother-child content creation alongside acting.