Television
Drama
Academic Associates PeaceWorks and Search for Common Ground, based
in Washington, D.C. are collaborating on a television drama, aimed
at urban youths aged 15 - 25 year. This is the group that is most
prone to political, ethnic and religious violence. AAPW and SfCG
collaborated on a radio drama in 2001 entitled Peace House. Based
on the appeal of the radio drama, we are moving ahead with a 3 year
project for a television drama of the same name. To date Canadian
CIDA and the World Bank have made financial commitments, while President
Obasanjo and the Federal Government of Nigeria have given a strong
endorsement to the project, along with guaranteed airtime on NTA’s
national network. \
A
2-week visit by Allen Scheid, Vice President of Search for Common
Ground, and Sheri Perelli, corporate fundraiser for SfCG, coincided
with the inauguration of President Obasanjo for a second term. We
also enjoyed a stimulating meeting with the President, as well as
productive visits to various foreign donors and companies working
in Nigeria.
Search
for Common Ground and Common Ground Productions have produced highly
successful television programmes in Macedonia and Cyprus, as well
as radio programmes in many African countries. We expect this exciting
television drama, to reach the Nigerian audience in 2004, following
development of a peace education curriculum for the programme, and
thorough training of Nigerian professionals in writing and production.
Macedonia’s drama is entitled “Nashe Maalo” (meaning
“Our Neighbourhood”). This phrase has become synonymous
with a new, nonconfrontational way of handling problems. We look
forward to a similar reorientation in the Nigerian mindset through
this kind of educational entertainment.
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The march-past at President Obasanjo’s swearing-in at Eagle
Square, Abuja. The famous Aso Rock is in the background.
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AAPW staff Goodluck Onyegbule and Mohammed Lawal on the left, and
Femi Babalola and Gift Akpabio on the right, with Sheri Perelli
and Mobile Police escorts Vondzig Fyelkus and Philip Adukwu- enjoying
the Cultural Night during the inaugural week. May 28, 2003
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