Veteran Nollywood actor, director, and academic, Sam Dede, speaks passionately about the need for youth mobilization in the Niger Delta. In this insightful interview during the recent First News 4th Annual Public Lecture in Port Harcourt, Dede discusses the alarming lack of awareness and consciousness among young people in the region, the critical role of the Kaiama Declaration in inspiring activism, and the importance of using art, particularly film, as a tool for storytelling and social change. He also highlights his upcoming Netflix film, Hijacked 93, as a powerful reminder of youth activism from a previous era.
Mr. Dede, you’ve spoken about the lack of interest in public lectures and events aimed at the youth in the Niger Delta. Why do you think this is happening?
It’s unfortunate, but there’s a noticeable lack of interest, especially among the youth. When I was younger, events like public lectures would attract thousands of young people. But now, despite .s on the radio, you don’t see many youths here. It’s not that they’re not being informed, it’s that many are not conscious of where they live. We live in a peculiar environment, and people just don’t care anymore. They’ve become indifferent to the conditions around them.
You mentioned the Kaiama Declaration as a key moment in Niger Delta activism. Can you elaborate on its significance?
Absolutely. The Kaiama Declaration was written by young people in just three days. Under a bridge in Kaiama, these youths, inspired by the late Oronto Douglas and others like Felix Tuordorlor and Vonkemedy, came together to create a declaration that still resonates today. Thousands gathered, driven by a common cause. Where has that spirit gone? Every Niger Delta youth needs to read and understand that declaration. It’s not about education alone—it’s about consciousness, about mobilizing ourselves for the struggle, so it doesn’t die.
You’ve been part of mobilizing the youth in the past. What do you think needs to change now?
It’s no longer the responsibility of old men like me to travel rugged terrains to speak to people. It’s time for the young people to step up. Mobilization must be a continuous effort, carried on from generation to generation. We must talk to ourselves about the conditions we live in. No other place in the world that produces oil has its people living in such poverty, without basic amenities. We’ve talked enough—it’s time for action.
You’ve also spoken about the importance of arts, particularly filmmaking, in driving this awareness. How can films contribute to the Niger Delta struggle?
Films are powerful tools for storytelling. We need to hand cameras to our youth so they can document the realities of their communities. Let them tell their own stories. Like the documentary we watched, showing the devastation in oil-producing areas. It’s heartbreaking. There’s nowhere in the world where oil is produced and the people suffer like this. We need to harness the creative economy—art, culture, and entertainment—because they hold immense potential to awaken consciousness.
How do you think we can make people outside the Niger Delta aware of these struggles?
We need to package our realities as tourism. Yes, the devastation can become a tourist site. Let the world come and see the impact of oil on the communities that produce it. But we can’t just sit back. We must organize ourselves, package these experiences to attract attention, and bring people in to witness what oil has done to us.
You’ve also been vocal about the Kaiama Declaration being a key document for the Niger Delta youth. What’s your message about it?
Every Niger Delta person must read the Kaiama Declaration. It’s not a theoretical book—it’s a declaration by the youth of this region, expressing their concerns. That’s where the real mobilization begins. It’s about going back to those roots, understanding the declaration, and reigniting the consciousness that once drove us.
Lastly, you have a new film coming up on Netflix, Hijacked 93. What should we expect from it?
Yes, Hijacked 93 is premiering on Netflix on the 25th of this month. It’s another film about consciousness, about how young people were thinking back in 1993. It will remind us of the struggles we’ve faced and how far we need to go. We need more films like this, capturing the stories of those drinking polluted water and eating poisoned fish. We must tell our stories.