 COORDINATING THE NUFFGLOBAL IN WEST AFRICA
By Christopher Uche Roberts (M.Sc)
The media blitz and publicity which the NUFFGLOBAL project on climate change got in Nigeria and West Africa, was no doubt a memorable experience to me. Having become associated with the Nordic Youth Film Festival in 2004 while I was on a three months family visit to Norway, my participation in the film workshop was the take off point for my long relationship with Tvibit and Nuff in Tromso. Last year while in Tromso as the project leader of the HIV/AIDS Youth Documentary Film between Nigeria and Norwegian youth film makers, I directed the movie “The Zulu King”, staring Herman Greuel. This was an epic idea which saw white Norwegians acting and epic Zulu play.
The publicity team I put together were cut across youths with various professional backgrounds. The idea was noble and a practical reality here in Nigeria, where climate change has evidenced visible consequences. Since there was no funding or budget for the publicity, all I had was a parcel of flyers and posters I received from Tromso. I got my inspiration from my conviction that the message had to be spread among youths, since I was a stakeholder in the humanity project.
I first of all did an assessment of how to reach the Nigerian 120 million people population at a snap. I then remembered that The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) had a morning breakfast TV show called “AM Express”, and that if I could get a hot seat from one of their zonal centres, I will reach out to more than 80 million viewers of which the majority would be youths.
I then drove down to their office, and luckily got an early morning appointment with the Assistant Director pf Programmes (ADP). On meeting with him, I gave him a well rehearsed speech on the ideals of the NUFFGLOBAL project. He asked how much I was going to pay the TV house and I told him nothing, and that on a humanitarian ground which the objectives of the NUFFGLOBAL was built on, he had a moral and ethical responsibility to put me on air. He was bowled over at my confidence, eloquence and good message and agreed to have me on air free of charge to 80 million viewers. I chose a Tuesday which was Id’El Fitri, a Muslim holiday. This was strategic, so as to make sure that I had a rich viewing audience, since it was a public holiday.
I was featured on the show as a guest and I gave a resounding talk on climate change and the imperatives of using youth film projects to effect change and stimulate a wider consciousness. It turned out successful as I started receiving responses from youths via phone calls, emails, and SMS. I have also attended various environmental conferences and workshops where I made known the Objectives of NUFFGLOBAL, and bolstered enlightenment on the subject. Both Ghana and Sierra Leone were covered through networking and contact persons.
I look forward to covering a conference in Port Harcourt, Nigeria’s oil capital, on the theme ‘Climate Change: Using Youth Film to Save the Niger Delta’. I also intend to feature Karen O’Brien and Nina Dessau as lead speakers, with some other Norwegian Youth Film Resource persons to attend the international conference. The response from within has been overwhelming. There needs to be a platform here in Nigeria and Africa to organise these responses into a strong awareness, using youth film as a medium to enhance policy direction and effect socio-economic and political change. My strong regards to all of us in the struggle.
With love from Nigeria (Africa),
Christopher Uche Roberts
Chrisuch98@yahoo.com
chrisnigeria@nuffglobal.net
Tel: +234 8033097997 |
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