MTV launches pro-democracy campaign in Nigeria

To maximise youth voter registration for the April 2011 elections, MTV will use its appeal to launch a series of on-air promotional spots on African music channel MTV base (DStv Channel 322) and on the MTV base blocks on Nigerian terrestrial TV partners STV and AIT. The promos urge Nigerian youth to determine their future and register before 29 January to ensure Nigeria's largest ever youth voter turnout.

Initiative includes music video

A key component of the initiative will include the release of a special music video fronted by Nigerian contemporary musicians entitled Rep 4 Naija. The track, an upbeat hip hop/R&B number is a collaboration between Nigerian stars eLDee, Sound Sultan, Black Twang, Naeto C, D'banj and MI. The video for Rep 4 Naija was directed by Nigerian video director Clarence Peters.

MTV's "Choose or Lose" campaign was designed to inform and empower young voters on the political issues that matter to them most, and to provide a platform for airing their views. First launched in 1992, the campaign has helped fuel several of the largest youth voter turnouts in US history, including in 2004, when it helped inspire nearly 22 million 18-30 year olds to register and vote. The campaign has successfully engaged youth voters in many other countries around the world including Mexico's 2006 presidential election.

Part of social responsibility campaign

"Choose or Lose" is part of MTVNA's on-going social responsibility campaign that has spawned initiatives such as "MTV base Meet" - a platform where young people are given the opportunity to interact directly with politicians and get involved.

Commented Alex Okosi, senior VP and MD, MTV Networks Africa, "With a huge percentage of the Nigerian population under the age of 24, "Choose or Lose" is designed to remind young people that they should take their civic responsibilities seriously and play a part in determining who should lead them. For Africa to develop, its young people need to secure a future that enables them to achieve their goals and that can only happen with good leadership."

Nigeria's independent national electoral commission (INEC) has confirmed that elections, which were initially scheduled for the end of January 2011, are now set for April. The elections for the National Assembly will be held on 2 April, for the presidency on 9 April and for the governors and state assemblies on 16 April.