Dawn In The Creeks (DITC), the Jeta
Amata-led initiative aimed at promoting peace in the country’s Niger Delta
region has kicked off its second season in Lagos, Nigeria.
 |
L - R, Team Lead, US Consulate Stabilisation Operation at
the Consulate in Nigeria, William Meeker; US Consul General in Nigeria,
Ambassador Jeff Hawkins and Board
member, Dawn In The Creeks, Andre Blaze Henshaw exchange pleasantries at the
formal launch of Season 2 of the Dawn In The Creeks TV series in Lagos
recently.
|
At the official launch attended by
Friends and Partners of DITC as well as members of the Press, Board member,
Dawn in the Creeks, Andre Blaze Henshaw said the second season would leverage
on the awareness and excitement generated by its debut season and highlight the
gains made so far and the challenges facing the project. “In our first season,
we mobilized the youth of the area to become change agents in a Niger Delta
that was, for too long, perceived as a cauldron of degradation, restiveness and
mayhem”, Henshaw reminded.
And while these issues have not been
totally eradicated, we can literally see a dawn of peace and hope on the
horizon”.
Season two follows the 21 young men
and women who had enrolled in the Nollywood Academy as they juggle their studies
with their roles as peace ambassadors to their communities as well as leaders
among their peers.
“Now things really get interesting
because our fledgling film makers are starting to realize that the path of
peace comes with its own peculiar issues”, — Henshaw explained.
L – R: Programme Manager, Dawn In The Creeks, Adewale Ajadi;
Board member, Andre Blaze Henshaw and US Consul General in Nigeria, Ambassador
Jeff Hawkins at the formal launch of
Season 2 of the Dawn In The Creeks TV series in Lagos recently.
|
“The crusade for a more peaceful and
prosperous Niger Delta will not be embraced immediately by all but they would
have to keep at the vision that only is it possible but has become necessary
for their communities to be freed from a past riddled with poverty and
despair”.
Among the friends and partners
present at the launch was, the US Consular General in Nigeria, Ambassador Jerry
Hawkins, who was full of praise for the Initiative and pledged the continued
support of the American Government. “The U.S. Mission partnered with a
distinguished group of Nigerian leaders to give the people of the Niger Delta
platforms like the Dawn in the Creeks reality TV show and weekly radio
programs, to share non-violent solutions to problems with their fellow
Nigerians as well as with local, state, and national authorities”, he said.
Jerry hinted that “Improving the
relationship and accountability between the government and its citizens will go
a long way to ensuring the future remains promising for the region. Today, Dawn
in the Creeks is a social enterprise run by a competent board of advisors from
the world of business, civil society and entertainment. We are looking for corporate partners who
share our vision of a better future for our youth.”
As in its maiden season, DITC2 will
feature notable figures from the Nigerian entertainment seasons serving as
mentors and facilitators for the Change Agents and is scheduled to air on
select TV stations across the country.
0 comments:
Post a Comment