HACEY Health Initiative; a development organisation focused on improving the health and productivity of vulnerable/underserved people in the society has recently kicked off an advocacy storytelling boot camp for media entrepreneurs.
The initiative with the theme, ‘Spurring Investment in Young People for Demographic Dividend’ is focused on raising emerging creative media experts to tell stories promoting ways the country can harness demographic dividends.
The official launch which was witnessed by representatives of the Africa Storytelling Development & Advocacy Initiative, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as well as representatives of the Ikorodu Community brought together 50 emerging creative media entrepreneurs.
Rhoda Robinson, executive director of HACEY Health Initiative explained that the project among other things would help participants acquire skills that will help them translate available data into compelling stories spurring interest of key stakeholders on issues that affect young people.
“The event is built on the idea that well-crafted stories connect people, inspire and create change. So, at this edition, we’re training 50 young people on the use of the media to create effective social change through story telling,” Robinson said.
She explained that media is a powerful tool in bringing positive change in the society, saying when media practitioners are adequately trained and mentored, the society will be a better place for all.
“This boot camp is about building the capacity of creative media expert to tell stories focused promoting investment in young people to harness demographic dividend. We also look forward to helping the participants acquire skills that will help them translate available data into compelling stories that will spur interest of key stakeholders on issues that affect young people,” she added.
In line with this, Amaka Haruna, program officer of UNFPA, hhdisclosed that the UNFPA is happy to be associated with the project, saying the key issue of achieving Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without the youths who constitute a larger percentage of the population.
She said participants who are youths are expected to take part in activities, workshops and seminars tailored to the different thematic pillars of demographic dividend and aimed at understanding underlying issues, build teamwork and develop solutions using media as a toll for change.
“We’re supporting the event with our technical expertise in training the lucky participants, especially on demographic dividends and how they can use media tools to bringing it about,” she added.
Similarly, Stephen Iguntoyinbo, CEO of Africa Storytelling Development and Advocacy Initiative, who doubles as one of the key facilitators said, “the media is a powerful tool for positive change and program is all about developing the minds and ability of the participants in the creative use of media tools for positive development, and by extension, harvesting demographic dividends.”
“We want to create a media alliance focused on harnessing demographic dividend. We have youths who’re working in the fields of film making, script-writing, photography, videography, journalism, social and online media, digital graphics and editors. They are brought together to be mentored by professionals who have been in the trade for many years.”
Also, Isaiah Owolabi, project director, HACEY Health Initiative, Owolabi Isaiah, explained that the program would run as masterclasses and interactive sessions to promote opportunities for knowledge sharing between participants, as well as personal developments, political and economic dimensions of their various communities.
Josephine Okojie
