( BW)NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 2005--"The Academy", a groundbreaking Nigerian docu-reality television series, will draw the attention of world leaders at the launch of Clinton Global Initiative, scheduled to take place September 15-17.

The series tells the story of 20 ordinary Nigerian youth from various ethnic, religious, geographical and socio-economic backgrounds, who participate in an intensive four-week course to hone their acting and conflict resolution skills. Each participant will compete to be cast in a subsequent radio and television drama series, "The Station".

Both The Academy and The Station are produced by Common Ground Productions, a Washington and Brussels-based NGO working in Nigeria on media programming that promotes positive role models and peaceful resolution of conflict for Nigeria's youth. Nestle Nigeria is providing financial support for both productions.

At the conference, President Clinton is expected to acknowledge the C.G.P-Nestle partnership as a practical example of NGO-private sector collaboration on challenging social issues, such as religious and ethnic tolerance.

"Nestle and Common Ground Productions are demonstrating how NGOs and corporations can work in partnership," said C.G.P. President John Marks. "Nestle is showing how a corporation can do good and do well at the same time."

Nestle Nigeria Managing Director and CEO Klaus Wachsmuth and Marketing Manager Iquo Ukoh will represent the global food company in New York.

Marks and Wachsmuth will use the landmark opportunity to co-sign a commitment letter in which Nestle Nigeria agrees to sponsor an additional two years production of The Station on TV and radio.

Nestle supports a range of social development activities in Nigeria including environmental, HIV/AIDS, nutrition awareness, and sports development programs.

The Clinton Global Initiative aims to find solutions to urgent problems: poverty, religious conflict, climate change and governance. The invitation-only forum is described by President Clinton as "an unprecedented opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people around the world."

Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend, along with corporate CEOs, academics and NGO representatives.

Copyright Business Wire 2005

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