The ambitious cross-continental initiative that saw 14 talented Nigerian TV interns head to Johannesburg as part of an M-Net skills sharing and training project has been successfully completed.

To the delight of the M-Net team managing the training program, their investment in this developmental initiative is set to reap rewards. The 14 Nigerian interns are traveling back to Lagos with a wealth of new knowledge about soap opera production; knowledge that will be put to vital use when M-Net begins production of its first ever Nigerian soap opera later this year.

Fully included in the daily workings on M-Net’s two popular South African soap operas Egoli and Binnelanders, the interns learned first-hand what is required to meet the rigorous demands of a show that screens every week day.

With the interns including writers, directors, producers, cameramen, costumers and sound engineers, the group was able to work closely with their South African counterparts in the various TV disciplines to learn more about a very specific TV genre that requires specialist technical and creative skills.

And Joseph Hundah, M-Net Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, believes the initiative worked because the people involved valued its ultimate intention.

“The teams at Egoli and Binnelanders were extremely generous with their time and knowledge while the interns were enthusiastic and open-minded. What made the initiative work was that these two groups of people share one critical characteristic – from wherever they come, they are all passionate about TV. And they all understood that this initiative was about strengthening their own community – the community of African TV professionals.”

The interns themselves are also optimistic about their time in South Africa. Selected from Nigerian TV company 341 Media, who will be partnering with M-Net later this year, and from the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria, the interns all valued the chance to hone their skills.

Audio Recorder Oamen Erhodaghe, who spent time at Egoli, said, “It was wonderful, every expert coming together as a team, working to achieve one single goal.”

Kemi Adesoye, a writer from Lagos, was very specific about the kind of knowledge she got from the training. She highlighted “scripting with regard to episodic breakdown process and directing with regard to blocking actors and plotting scenes” as one of the insights she gained.

For writer Olayinka Ogun, “the opportunity to learn from someone who is undoubtedly an authority in my field of endeavour” was the most valuable part of participating in the initiative.

Costumer Julia Coco Bassey described her experience as “fulfilling, valuable and satisfying” and Olumide Akinwumi-Oke (Continuity) called it “exciting, informative, educative, exhilarating and enriching.”

Asked what lessons he would carry forward from the training, Olayinka Akanbi (Scheduling) is clear. “No half measures! You can never be half pregnant. Do plan very well, be passionate enough to be detailed all the way through.”

For 52-year-old Patrick Afun (Lighting Designer), “it was great experiencing the Binnelanders lighting style”. He went on to thank M-Net for the experience which he described as a “great gift.”

Meanwhile cameraman Onye Ubanatu says, “Working in the control room has broadened my knowledge on the importance of managing information while working and also quality controlling. And working on the floor broadened my scope on time management.”

Content Producer Femi Odugbemi agrees, saying the biggest revelation for him came “from the synergy and team process that shapes a soap opera”.

Post Production Supervisor Olajide Henry Abisayo says the most valuable part of the initiative for him was “being able to understudy structures that a successive 15-year-old daily soap has evolved over the years to ensure a smooth production” while Victor Okhai plans to write a book on Floor Management from his training and experience on this trip.