
On Thursday, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation premiered season five of MTV Shuga Naija, a series that addresses various social issues. The premiere event included a press briefing focused on the topics featured in the series, followed by a private screening of the new season. The cast of the new season includes both established actors and rising stars such as Adesua Etomi-Wellington, John Njamah, Tomiwa Tegbe, and Maggie Osuome. Additionally, Kanaga Jnr. Eme and Chioma Edak, who were selected through the MTV Shuga Naija public auditions last year, will be playing lead and supporting roles.
The series is partnered with Unitaid, Global Innovation Fund, and Paramount to tackle gender-based violence, COVID-19 vaccine confidence, women’s empowerment, modern contraception, and promote the use of HIV self-testing kits in Nigeria. Country Manager of MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Anita Adesiyan, said the new season aims to give young viewers a broader perspective on issues that affect them. Dr Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Country Manager of Paramount, expressed excitement to showcase the series on MTV Base and BET and emphasized its impact in promoting positive behavioral change and sparking conversations on social issues.