What do u guys think about it? Anyone registered yet??


Views from a Distance is a live action television documentary series in which three ordinary Nigerians who have never travelled abroad from Nigeria, and chosen randomly from a pool of those expressing interest through a national competition, travel abroad as ambassadors of Nigeria.

The three ambassadors will be accompanied by a production crew that will film them as they interact with the people of the world, telling them about the positive changes that are taking place in Nigeria since the transition to civil rule in 1999. To do this, first they will seek to understand their views of Nigeria. In other words, they will be saying: tell us what you know about us and if you’re correct we’ll confirm it; if not, we’ll tell you our story—the truth. We’ll tell you how far our country has progressed since 1999 in these areas:
• Government’s Economic Reforms
• NEEDS
• SEEDS
• Macroeconomic Stability
• Institutional Reforms
• Structural Reforms
• Sectoral Reforms (Financial, Telecommunications, etc.)
• Anti-Corruption Drive (EFCC, ICPC)
• Transparency in Government Business (Due Process, NEITI, etc.)
• HIV/AIDS (NACA)
• MDGs
• Sustainability

Views from a Distance will be filmed and broadcast over the course of one year beginning in October 2006 and ending in October 2007. There are four quarterly series of thirteen weekly episodes each.

A different set of ambassadors will be chosen for each series.

Series One will take the ambassadors to Europe.
Series Two will take the ambassadors to USA and Canada.
Series Three will take the ambassadors to Japan and the Far East.
Series Four will take the ambassadors to Australia and New Zealand.

Eligibility for Participation

Four simple rules:
• Any Nigerian over the age of 18
• Minimum of secondary school education
• Must not have previously travelled out of Nigeria
• Valid Entry Voucher

Selection

40 participants will be shortlisted initially from the pool of registered PINs. After the 40 PINs have been drawn at this stage, the successful individuals will have one week to travel to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for the final selection.

A 12-person panel of judges drawn from different walks of live will make the final selection.

SERIES 1: EUROPE

During series one, the chosen ambassadors will spend a total of ninety days travelling by road, rail and air between fourteen European countries. The countries to be visited are the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Pre-Production Schedule

1st July 2006 – 2nd November 2006
Registration of PINs in progress

3rd November 2006
40 short-listed applicants announced

10th November 2006
Grand Finale in Abuja
Final 3 selected by a panel of judges in Abuja

11th November – 31st October 2006
Pre-travel preparations, documentation and orientation

1st December 2006
Departure for Europe from Abuja

Prizes

Each of the three ambassadors will receive a cash prize of TWO MILLION NAIRA (N2,000,000.00) upon return to Nigeria.

FUTURE SERIES

SERIES 2:
USA/CANADA
February – May 2007

SERIES 3:
JAPAN/FAR EAST
May – August 2007

SERIES 4:
AUSTRILIA/NEW ZEALAND
August – October 2007


REGISTRATION for Views from a Distance (Series One: Europe) has now been extended until 2ND NOVEMBER 2006.

A VALID PIN is still required for registration, but we have now made registration simpler and easier and available throughout Nigeria. Starting from 2nd October 2006, all anyone wishing to register now needs to do is:

Pay the N400 (four hundred naira) PIN/Registration fee into Refuge Island Media's Account at any branch of Access Bank Plc. The details are: Account Name: Refuge Island Media. Account Number: 0090010008739
Then text Your Name and the Access Bank Plc teller number and GSM number to 0806 921 4210 or 0807 775 1569
Upon confirmation of payment we will send you a VALID PIN via SMS, usually within 24 hrs.

Then go to www.refugeisland.com/views to register once you've received your PIN.


http://www.refugeisland.com/CURRENTPROJECTS/TELEVISION/VFaD/THESERIES/tabid/65/Default.aspx