MTV Adds ‘Shuga’ To Nigerian Talents

For two seasons, it rocked many African countries with millions of youths on the continent thrilled with action movies set in bars, hangout joints and clubs in Nairobi, Kenya. In its third season, Shuga, the TV drama about youth, sex and relationships is coming to Nigeria courtesy of MTV Base and the MTV Staying Alive Foundation.

L-R: Biyi Bandele, Alex Okosi, Georgia Arnold and Kemi Adesoye

The third series of Shuga, a part of a 360-degree mass media campaign designed to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and teen pregnancy in Nigeria, was unveiled at an exclusive event held at the WheatBaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, on 25 June.
Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, VIMN Africa, who expressed excitement over the launch of the series in Nigeria, said his organisation and MTV Staying Alive Foundation are set to tap into the creativity of Nigeria’s flourishing entertainment industry in the creation and realisation of the series.
“MTV Base is proud and excited to bring Shuga to Nigeria for the first time.  We are delighted that this award-winning series and multimedia campaign will be using its muscle to shine a light on important public health issues affecting youth, and promoting meaningful behaviour change while leveraging Nigerian creativity and talent,” Okosi said.
Georgina Arnold, Executive Director, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, who walked into the ceremony in crutches after a minor domestic accident, also spoke on the initiative behind the launch. She stated that the foundation aims to strike a chord with young Nigerians and provoke a significant shift in their attitude and behaviour towards sexual health and associated public health issues.
“We are combining these messages with stylish production, poignant storylines, believable characters and world class acting to make Shuga sweeten the pill and make an impact where other campaigns may have failed to resonate in the past,” Arnold said.

•Eku Edewor (l), a guest and Colette Otusheso

MTV Base and MTV Staying Alive Foundation have found allies in the Nigerian government’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. They will be joining forces with the US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief, PEPFAR, which has also expressed its intention to support the campaign on creating awareness and information about HIV, sexual responsibility and teen pregnancy among Nigerian youth.
“Efforts such as Shuga that seek to expand knowledge about HIV among young people are critical to helping us achieve an AIDS-free generation. Raising awareness is key to keeping this and future generations healthy and able to lead productive lives,” Shirley A. Dady, PEPFAR Country Coordinator, Nigeria said.
The third series of Shuga will be shot and produced in Nigeria for the first time, utilising a predominantly Nigerian cast and crew.
Biyi Bandele, British-based Nigerian filmmaker who directed the film of Chimamanda Adichie’s Half Of A Yellow Sun, will direct the 8-part series.

•L-R: Beverly Naya, Ehiz & Shalewa

Speaking about his involvement in the series, Bandele said: “I was attracted to Shuga because I considered it a special, great project. It is doing something that no any other television programme in Africa is doing right now.”
He added that it is crucial that Nigerians tell their own stories. “When you do that, you find that your target audience immediately responds. There is no translation to be made; you don’t have to do any special pleading. They are just there with you immediately,” the author of the popular war-story book, Burma Boy, told P.M.NEWS Entertainment Café.
Bankole will be working will award-winning scriptwriter, Kemi Adesoye, who will write the screenplay alongside a team of Nigerian writers.
P.M.NEWS Entertainment Café learnt that Adesoye was picked by Bandele after he saw her screenplay for Kunle Afolayan’s Phone Swap. She has also wielded her skills in other top productions including M-Net hit soap Tinsel and The Figurine.
“In bringing Shuga to Nigeria, I hope that we embrace it. I hope young people will learn, be entertained and ultimately change their lives. I would like Shuga to help start  conversations between friends and families about issues relating to certain taboos, talk about HIV and about teen pregnancy,” said Adesoye.
Scores of Nigerian established and upcoming actors are expected to feature in the popular series. Shuga 3 will star Nigerian actor and artiste,  Ikubese Emmanuel Ifeanychukwu, who will reprise his role as smooth-talking bad boy, Femi, from Shuga 2.
Also in the third series will be Kenyan actor, singer and On-Air-Personality, Nick Mutuma, who was in series one and two. Mutuma will be revisiting his role as Leo, one of Shuga’s most popular characters. Following hit turns by EME stars, Banky W and Wizkid, in the Series 2, a number of popular Nigerian musicians are also expected to be involved in cameo and acting roles.  It was learnt that the pre-production of the multi-episode drama is already well underway. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in August.
“Bringing Shuga to Nigeria is a very smart move as youths in Nigeria need to take the importance of sexual health seriously and using this medium to push this message as well as using Nigerian acts to create real life situations is a smart move,” actress Beverly Naya told P.M.NEWS Entertainment Café at the event.
Other elements of the Shuga campaign will include a radio drama series, a peer educator programme, a comic book in Hausa and English, a mobile information service, social media and a range of digital platforms.
The series will be premiere on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322), Nigerian terrestrial broadcasters and other MTV networks and third party broadcasters around the world on 1 December (World AIDS Day).


source: PM News

I had every intention of never speaking to him again. After discovering my husband, Tim, had been going to prostitutes for over a year without me realizing it, I filed for divorce. Unbeknownst to me, God had a much different plan in store. During a six month separation, God held back the divorce papers and brought both my husband and me into a true relationship with Himself through Jesus. Then He called me to reconcile with my husband. In each of these situations, God directed my steps and showed me very clearly what to do (Proverbs 20:24). The key was listening to Him. Every marriage situation is different. There are different circumstances, different people coming from different backgrounds, different journeys and relationships with the Lord. Perhaps one spouse is a believer in Jesus and the other isn’t. Maybe they both think they are following the Lord but neither one of them has a close relationship with Him. Many women in my situation ask me for advice. I can only share what God has done in my own marriage and encourage them to seek the Lord with all their heart. God is able to show each one of us what we should do. He desires that each of us trust Him and ask Him for advice and direction. I believe God uses these devastating situations to bring us closer to Him. Because He created each one of us uniquely, He can show us what to do in every unique situation. Sometimes God will call us to stay. Sometimes He will call us to separate. Never will He ask us to condone or enable sin. When God called me to move back home with my husband, I did so only out of love and obedience for Him. I was very afraid of being hurt again. During our time apart, God gave my husband a glimpse of hell, where he was headed if he continued with his life of sin. Thankfully got the message, and, in tears of release and repentance, he gave his life to Christ. (2 Corinthians 7:10) One of the ways I knew it was God’s will to reconcile was because of the true repentance I saw in my husband. It was amazing to see how excited he was about the Bible. He was convinced it was 100% true and he should live his life by it. I saw my husband as a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) God wants each one of us to be with Him forever. This means truly turning from our sin, repenting, and giving our lives to Him. I believe a big part of our roles as wives is to love our husbands enough to leave them when they are sinning and not take personal responsibility for their sin. (1 Corinthians 7:2-6) If our husband is not a believer, separating for a time may be the only way God can get their attention. That old saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” often comes true in this kind of situation. I learned that if I truly love my husband, truly want what is best for him, then I cannot condone or enable his sin. I have to be the wife he needs, not necessarily the wife he wants. The wife he needs prays for him, encourages him to spend time with the Lord, cheers him on, forgives him when he stumbles, hates the sin but loves the sinner. Sometimes love is tough. It does the very thing we may not “feel” like doing. It doesn’t always line up with our emotions or feelings because love isn’t a feeling but an action (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). It looks out for the best for the other person, even if that person may “feel” unloved at the time. Isn’t God that way with us? He doesn’t always give us what we want, but He always gives us what we need. Because He loves us so much, He wants us to grow, persevere, and become more like Jesus in character (Philippians 2:1-18). “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20 NIV) Father, I pray for people that are struggling with sexual sin. I pray You give their spouse the strength they need to separate when necessary and the obedience to reconcile when You call them to that. You are a God of redemption. Help each one of us to follow You and trust Your guidance in every situation. You alone have all the answers. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen. This article was written by Amy Allen, who along with her husband Tim have the web site A Redeemed Marriage, which tells the “story of hope and redemption through Jesus.” We highly recommend you visit their web site and read Amy’s blog. It can be an encouragement to anyone who has a troubled marriage because of sexual addiction. You will be blessed as you read of their spiritual and marital journey of resurrected hope and love.

Read More Now http://naijamayor.com/dealing-with-cheating-in-marriage/