Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Nigerian Painting Tour (NPT)

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Nigerian Painting Tour (NPT) is a biodiversity conservation project that addresses environmental issues, through art. Created by painter and cartoonist Femi Babawande, the project is focusing on the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, which consists of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Abia, and Imo states. NPT is in line with the United Nations 2004 theme on the environment - "Wanted! Seas and Oceans: Dead or Alive?" - and is subtitled "The Niger-Delta in the Eyes of an Artist". It aims to create awareness of environmental issues, hopefully redirecting the attention of policy makers and other stakeholders toward environmental problems.
Communication Strategies

The NPT project uses the visual art form in an effort to address various environmental problems. "The main thrust of the NPT project is multi-dimensional, but targeted towards a common direction." It is a diverse conservation concept geared toward celebrating and promoting the Nigerian landscapes through art.


Contributions in the form of paintings and drawings of rain forests and mangroves of the Niger Delta were solicited from interested participants in preparation for a tour programme that was to cover Asaba, Port Harcourt, and Bonny Island. A June 2004 tour was planned; it was to include a team of wildlife and landscape painters undertaking tours of the country and documenting what they saw.

Development Issues

Environment.

Key Points

Editor's note: The June 2004 tour was not conducted as scheduled. Logistics (i.e., lack of funding and support) impeded the intended launch of the project. As of November 2004, organisers are working on developing a coordinating presence in Nigeria's Northern, Eastern, and Middle Belt. Volunteers are sought to act as Liaising Officers in these geographical zones. These individuals (male or female) must be environmental enthusiasts and would preferably be a Senior Secondary School Student, an undergraduate, or a member of the National Youth Service Corps posted to any of these places. Inclination toward painting, photography, and tour operation are added advantages. Interested applicants should send their name, age, sex, contact address, email address, and 5 lines expressing why they would like to be involved with the NPT to the contact listed below on or before January 15 2005. No financial remuneration is associated with this volunteer opportunity.

This project is an effort to stimulate and increase environmental awareness in support of World Environmental Day, commemorated each year on June 5.


Organisers believe that the NPT project, if properly articulated, will encourage specialised endeavours in painting subjects that impact on the environment and wildlife.

An associated campaign is underway to preserve the habitat world of animals, with special focus on endangered species.

Partners

Supported by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).

Sources

ActAlive listserve, dated May 26 2004. (To join, send a blank email to actalive@yahoogroups.com); and email from Femi Babawande to The Communication Initiative on November 19 2004.