Aigbodion Izien (24), who has previously had roles in Echoes, Last 3 Digits will play the spokesperson to a top musician, while Nnenna Udeh (27), who formerly appeared in Tinsel, will interpret the role of an HIV counsellor in series 3 of Shuga, which is being directed by "Half of a Yellow Sun" director, Biyi Bandele.
Fusing sexual health messaging with gripping storylines, Shuga is part of a powerful 360-degree mass media campaign designed to raise awareness about HIV prevention and teen pregnancy in Nigeria. Key themes covered by the series will include: living with HIV; disclosing your status; getting tested; condom use; gender based violence; gender equality; women's empowerment; family planning; teen pregnancy; transactional sex; multiple concurrent partners; stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV; and parent/child relationships/communication.
Commens Biyi Bandele, "I've been blown away by the level of talent and professionalism that we have been discovering in Nigeria and I am delighted to welcome Nnenna and Aigbodion onto the cast of Shuga and to give this opportunity to showcase their talent in this high stakes drama."
Izien and Udah won their parts after winning an online vote to find up-and-coming Nigerian acting talent for the acclaimed sex-and-relationships drama conducted on www.shuga.tv.
Shuga - Lagos will premiere on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) on 1 December 2013 (World AIDS Day) and will subsequently air on multiple TV and digital platforms around the world.
To register your views on the Shuga cast, go to www.Shuga.TV; like Shuga on Facebook; or follow Shuga on Twitter @MTVShuga.
Shuga is produced by MTV Base and the MTV Staying Alive Foundation in collaboration with NACA; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund). PEPFAR (The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) has also expressed a commitment to join forces with the campaign.
