Strategic planning for movie-day and visit to Warri Community Radio

The strategic planning session was mainly a preparatory session for our movie day. The team conducted a checklist of the requirements for the successful hosting of the movie day.

At 11:15, selected participants and volunteers for the visit to Warri Community Radio station departed the venue. Success Tuedongheye represented Team Ginuwa II, Anita Omatsone represented Team Olu Erejuwa II, Besinfe Etuwewe represented Team Olu Atuwatse II while Ayiri Omatsone represented Team Olu Ikenwoli. 

The representatives were in the company of the program coordinator Uwala Tedeye and two volunteers; Sholaye Edun and Omatsola Okpeyo.

On getting to the radio station, our session was rescheduled for 12:15 pm. This is because they had the news in Itsekiri language and  pidgin English between 12 noon to 12:15pm. The studio Manager, Mr. Taiye Amatesiro anchored the session as we discussed the vision and mandates of the NextGen project to the public. 

The participants were asked how the programme has been beneficial to them. They responded that it has been beneficial to them in diverse ways. They discussed some new and useful things they have learnt that are different from what they have been taught in their respective schools. 

• Ayiri said she has become bold and self-confident, as it's a quality a leader must possess.
• Success has learnt good morals and how not to get involved in social vices. 
• Anita said through this programme, she gets to learn new things, e.g. she hasn't heard of the word Autism before but got to know about it when we had our session on Zero discrimination day tied to autism. 
• Besinfe said that before now, he was shy to stand in front of a crowd, but can do that now without feeling intimidated. He got this boldness from participating in almost all activities in Itsekiri NextGen.

The NextGen team were asked what challenges they face as they run the programme. We replied by saying that we would love to replicate this same project in more Itsekiri communities in Warri Kingdom, but for limited resources.

Mr Taiye Amatesiro promised to talk to Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor;  the Igba of Warri kingdom to avail Dr. Merrick Lori Cultural Center at Ajamimogha as a centre for Itsekiri NextGen to use and launch the project in that area. The centre will cover Ajamimogha, Okere, Ugbori and Ekurede axis.

He urged youngsters living in Pessu community and its environs to join the programme because of its long term positive effect. He also beckoned on the parents in that environment to allow their children to attend the programme.

The participants used the medium to thank the entire Itsekiri NextGen team for bringing this project to their environment and for the positive impact it is having on their lives.