大象传媒

大象传媒 World Service
Last updated:聽4 december, 2009 - 18:17 GMT

Desert Warrior

When Dr Newton Jibunoh attends the climate change talks in Copenhagen, he will be one of the conference's most seasoned campaigners.

Dr Jibunoh is perhaps Nigeria's most respected environmentalist, who has over 40 years of experience raising awareness of climate change and desert encroachment.

And now at 71 years old, he is launching another innovative new project - a reality television programme with a difference.

In December Desert Warriors will be appearing on TV screens across Nigeria and neighbouring Niger.

It's a green Big Brother style endurance show where 15 young men and women will be selected from a group of 50 to cross the Sahara desert.

Dr Jibunoh hopes that the programme will inspire Nigerians to take action against climate change.

When Newton Jibunoh came into the studio he explained to Lucy Ash that he first became aware of the problems of climate change and the encroaching desert back in 1967 when he made his first trip across the Sahara.