Dawn in the Creeks…A Niger Delta legacy

For long, the conversation across the country and the world over about Nigeria’s Niger Delta region had been that of kidnappings, youth restiveness, explosion of oil pipelines, among others.

Bad as the actions may be, those engaged in the nefarious activities had their reasons. Core to their reasons are the growing unemployment, little or no infrastructure in the region due to neglect by government, among others.

But the conversation is taking a positive turn this time with some projects targeted at developing human capital in the region that will in turn empower the Niger Delta youth, curb restiveness and bring development.

Jeta Amata, Nigerian ace film maker, and indigene of Niger Delta is leading the new conversation that is breeding the desired change with movie production training, mentorship and entrepreneurship project tagged ‘Dawn in the creeks’- a development recipe and a legacy he wants to leave to the region.

Already down with 13 episodes in the Season 1, ‘Dawn in the creeks’ is a reality show which began in July 2014 across Nigeria. It follows teams of Niger Delta youth and their journey to make films in the Nollywood style. Their films tell true stories of non-violent transformation, and also challenge the narrative that violence is the only legacy for the Niger Delta.

In doing so, the aspiring filmmakers under the tutelage of Jeta Amata will premiere their complete films and participate in screenings and dialogues across the Delta.

The project, which has so far made efforts at changing the mindset of the people in the region to embrace peace, and initiative that will bring uneven development, is also aimed at equipping the youths with skills such as filmmaking to empower themselves and others at the long run.

 Speaking recently at a media parley, Jeta Amata, creative director of the reality show, noted that Dawn in the creeks, which formalises the goal of the Niger Delta Legacy Engagement, is aimed at helping the citizens of the region to emerge from the 2015 election period without destabilizing violence and on a path towards an improved relationship between citizens and their government.

However, the project supported by the United States of America, is looking beyond 2015 to building a legacy of non-violent advocacy and problem solving by young people in particular.

For Amata, the rationale for choosing the Niger Delta region for the reality show was because the region is poised for catalytic change as numerous activists, youth leaders, among others, have seen the need for peace and are championing the narrative of non-violence and striving to create a peaceful legacy for the region.

Of course, Yemi Adamolekun, vice chair, Niger Delta Legacy Advisory Board, and Adewale Ajadi, project manager, US Consul Niger Delta Project, both spoke optimistically on the impact of the reality show in breeding youths that are both hungry and agent of change through non-violent means.

While the reality show may not solve all the problems in the region, Ajadi noted that it is kicking off a change that would overtime, overrun the whole region and set it on the verge of sustainable development.  

 However, the thrilling thing about the reality show is that Jeta Amata chose even from among some ex-militants and community rebels who surprisingly are doing good films which Amata said are better than what are shown on box office.

 But Amata noted that one way to appreciate what the young filmmakers are doing is to watch the reality show’s 13-episode series currently showing on AIT on Sundays at 6: 30 pm, NTA on Fridays at 10 pm and Wednesdays at 9 am.

The show also airs on Silverbird on Saturdays at 3 pm, Channels TV on Saturdays at 5:30 pm, TCV ON Saturdays at 6:30 pm, Wazobia FM on Fridays from 3-4 pm, Crown FM on Saturdays from 4-5 pm among others.

It would be recalled that in the late 2013, the United States Consulate General in Lagos and the US Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO), decided that they needed to contribute towards reducing the likelihood of conflicts in Nigeria’s oil-rich but violence-prone Niger Delta region. So they launched the Niger Delta Legacy Engagement. Together with a board of distinguished Nigerians, they set for themselves a goal to reduce the likelihood of mass violence in the Niger Delta using several means among which is the ‘Dawn in the creek’ reality show.

OBINNA EMELIKE