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.
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.
“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.
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