'Talk Talk' producer King James receiving his award

Africast is a biannual conference of African broadcasters. The awards are organised by the Union of National Radio and Television Organisations of Africa (URTNA).

Best radio producer

'Talk Talk' won the Africast 'Best Producer Radio' award. The programme was also nominated in the 'Best Radio Programme' category.

'This is a great tribute to the strength or our creative team in Nigeria'   Karen Merkel, director of education

The Hausa-language version of the Trust's popular radio drama, 'Story Story' ('Gatanan Gatanan Ku'), was also nominated for the Best Producer Radio award.

Creative strength

'This is a great tribute to the strength of our creative team in Nigeria and is a timely boost for the programme makers, as we are about to launch a TV version of the show', says the Trust's director of education, Karen Merkel.

Jaldeep Katwala, the Trust's country director in Nigeria, says: 'it's a remarkable acheivement for the trust to pick up Africast awards for 'Talk Talk' and 'Story Story' and shows the strength of output across the Trust's programmes in Nigeria.

'The fact that 'Talk Talk' is now transferring to television is testament to its popular format and relevance to the Nigerian audience.'

'Talk Talk's success follows that of the Trust’s radio drama, 'Story Story – Voices from the Market', which won the Best Drama award at the last Africast awards in Abuja in 2004.

'Talk Talk' producer  'Talk Talk' is entirely different to other radio programmes anywhere in the country in terms of issues tackled, the guests and the format.   King James Yiye, producer

Dynamic duo

King James Yiye is the winning show's producer. Daughter Jack presented the show. King James and Daughter Jack alternate roles, so that when one produces, the other presents.

King James Yiye, 'Talk Talk' producer says: 'Talk Talk is entirely different to other radio programmes anywhere in the country in terms of issues tackled, the guests and the format.

'It's not just a programme where policy makers sit and tell people what they are doing. The common man sits side by side and challenges people in authority.

'To win Best Radio Producer in Africa is really something for me, having spent seven years in radio. To emerge as the best producer in Africa is something that I couldn't imagine happening. I'm really proud of it.'

Jack and Yiye both joined the BBC World Service Trust as attachees after attending a trust training workshop in Abuja in February 2006. Both are experienced presenters and create powerful radio programmes.

Vital ingredients

'Talk Talk' takes topics from the Nigerian radio drama 'Story Story' and looks at the impact they have in real life.

Each programme uses an excerpt from the drama and also features a location report from around the country.

One of the vital ingredients was tackling relevant issues that affect Nigerians. The winning programme was entitled 'Bribery, who is to blame: the giver or the taker?'

The latest series has also tackled:

• 'Godfatherism - How do you stop the 'win at all costs' mentality in politics?'
• 'The Abuja masterplan - How it affects you (for stations in the Abuja area)'
• 'Corporal punishment - When does discipline become violence?'
• 'The brain drain - Why do talented Nigerians want to leave for the West? And should you try to stop them?'

One of the features of the programme is that it puts ordinary Nigerians in touch with people in power.

It asks what everyone can do to make their world a better place.

The programme about 'brain drain' featured a young man desperate to get a visa; an immigration official and a Nigerian professor who has lived and worked in the USA.

The idea is that real stories are the most effective way of exploring a subject and making the programme interesting, while still raising important development issues.

'Talk Talk' is broadcast in three languages: Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.

'Talk Talk' TV is now being broadcast on African Independent Television on a Monday evening at 6:30pm and will continue to be broadcast on radio stations across the country.

The project is funded by DFID Nigeria.