MTN partners MTV Base for African youth empowerment TV series

Media giant group, MTV Networks Africa and telecoms giant MTN, have joined forces to work towards the achievement of empowering the youth of Africa.

This collaboration is in a form of a television series dubbed “MTV Base Meets…with MTN” which is an 8-part youth empowerment initiative to inspire African youth by connecting them with some of the world’s most influential personalities.

“The pan-African broadcaster and Africa’s leading mobile operator are partnering to produce MTV Base Meets…with MTN, an 8-part youth empowerment initiative and TV series that creates a dialogue between young people and the political, business and cultural leaders who shape the world today” a statement on MTVBase’s website said after the signing took place in Lagos, Nigeria on May 10, 2011.

Diverse panels of young people representing different youth interests across the African continent, with participants coming from Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, among others, will be putting probing questions to influential, inspirational and sometimes controversial individuals during the show, MTV Base said.

According to MTV Base, among the eminent people who will feature in the series are Liberian President Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Mr Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and South African politician Mr Julius Malema (President of the ANC Youth League) and many African leaders or influencers who exercise a significant impact on the continent.

Commenting, Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa said “We hope that ‘MTV base Meets…with MTN’ will inspire young people across Africa to know that their voice matters and to help prepare them to take their own roles among the leaders of tomorrow.”

The MTN Nigeria Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Bola Akingbade was cited  in the statement as saying “Through this series, MTN hopes to give this growing segment of Africa’s population a bridge to connect with decision-makers through dialogue.”

The previous shows have interviewed influential individuals such as Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair, Morgan Tsvangarai and Wyclef Jean.

The series will air across Africa from July 18, 2011, said the statement

By Ekow Quandzie