Desert Warriors Expedition/TV Show Takes Off in January

Dr. Newton Jibunoh Desert Warriors Expedition, a joint venture between Lagos State Government's Ministry of Environment and FADE Africa is expected to take off January 26, 2010, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek has learnt.
The expedition was earlier scheduled to take off in December this year.
Prior to the expedition, organizers are putting up a preliminary/screening stage, which will take the form of an Endurance Reality Show.
It involves 50 men and women aged between 18 and 40 years of age who will be selected from applicants.
The 50 selected participants are invited to become contestants on The Endurance Reality show in Agadez, Niger.
They will join the Nigerian ambassador to Niger Republic, and will work with officials of the Republic of Niger's Ministry of Environment on various greening projects, community services and endurance exercises.
While in Agadez, the participants will be put through various endurance exercises, physical fitness challenges, discipline tests, social comportment and driving skills tests.
The challenges will be filmed and later transmitted on LTV, Silverbird TV and TVC in Lagos. The show will also air on various TV stations in Niger to show how the participants are faring.
During the show, viewers will be able to vote via sms on which of the contestants they would like to eliminate or keep. The final decision on whom to be eliminated will be made by a panel of judges.
Eventually, the remaining 15 contestants will become official Desert Warriors and will set off on an Expedition.
During the expedition, the participants will drive from Nigeria to the United Kingdom across the Sahara desert by road.
The Desert Warriors will also receive prizes including a Suzuki jeep as well as monetary awards. All 15 Desert warriors will become Lagos state Environment ambassadors and will be honoured at a ceremony in London.
The expedition was founded by Dr. Newton Jibunoh, a dyed in the wool environmentalist, who made three successful journeys across the Sahara Desert by car.
In recognition of his efforts, Dr. Jibunoh was made the Ambassador for Environment, Lagos State; tasked with furthering the plans to make Lagos a "green society".  He is committed to the Lagos State Government's agenda of creating a mega city with a sustainable managed environment.