NTA, Natives Filmworks, Innovative Television Kontent Sign Deal To Remake Programme

You can hear the bird sing in the morning
You can hear the water splashing down the hill, kind of roaring
You can see the sun going down
And the people as they go by
Without a frown

Here, the traffic never jams
Don′t cost much to buy some yams
And the neighbours say, “Hello”
And will strife to pull you up from down below
You can even hear the sound of the cock crow at dawn
Will he ever get there?
Will he ever make it?
Will he ever hear the sound of the cock crow at dawn?…

This signature tune heralded what many considered as the golden era of Nigerian television. It was a Holy Grail to congregate at a point to watch the drama, because very few people had television sets in their houses.

Going away from the For Better For Worse Series, in 1979, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) had used the programme to sensitise farmers on how they could access loans from banks during the Operation Feed the National (OFN) Programme of General Olusegun Obasanjo, which the administration of President Shehu Shagari changed to the Green Revolution.

It was the first soap opera drama on location, because others were done on TV with sets.

The drama, which ran on Nigeria Television (NTV) on Fridays at 8.00pm and sponsored by United Bank for Africa, was one of the programmes you could watch every week in the 80s.

Hajia Lantana Ahmed (Afi), who was working at the Centre for Cultural Studies Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, alongside Uncle Gaga (Kasimu Yero), Sadiq Daba, Zainab Bewell (Ene, Uncle Gaga’s first wife), were successful at the audition.

The programme also unveiled Ene Oloja, George Menta, Maureen Egbuna (Uncle Gaga’s third wife), Emmanuel Oniwun (Uncle Beke) and Tola Awobode (Lare).

To bring back the memory, NTA, Natives Filmworks, and Innovative Television Kontent (ITK) have officially entered into an exclusive co-production agreement to remake the iconic television series. The collaboration will bring the much-loved series back to primetime in 2026.

The agreement, signed on October 6, 2025, marks a major milestone in Nigerian television history. The partnership brings together three powerhouses NTA, led by Director-General Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos; Natives Filmworks, helmed by Steve Gukas; and Dimbo Atiya’s ITK to produce an initial 104 episodes of Cockcrow at Dawn.

Speaking at the signing, Dembos described the project as a defining moment for Nigerian broadcast storytelling: “We are excited to bring what was a much-loved series back to our screens. The timing couldn’t be better, given the Federal Government’s push to increase interest and participation in agriculture. It feels almost like a 360 moment when you think of the conditions that birthed the show in the first place,” said Dembos.

Echoing his sentiments, Steve Gukas, CEO of Natives Filmworks, expressed pride and anticipation for what this revival represents for the industry:

“We are incredibly proud of the opportunity to partner with NTA on this series that is frankly, a national treasure. We are well aware of the weight of responsibility this holds. It’s a wonderful chance for the industry to showcase how far it has come since the first run of the series in the 1980s. We shall pull in the very best in all spheres of the industry to deliver on the promise this holds,”said Gukas.

Also speaking on behalf of NTA, Executive Director, Programmes, Tari Taylaur, highlighted the broadcaster’s renewed focus on heritage storytelling:

“Remaking Cockcrow at Dawn is the first in our determination to bring back gems in our catalogue that we believe will resonate with today’s audiences. It is part of our efforts to boost engagement and ratings for our network. I am confident we have found the right partners in Natives Filmworks and ITK, who have both consistently delivered riveting, world-class content”.

For Dimbo Atiya, Founder of ITK, the project represents a defining opportunity to push the boundaries of series production in Nigeria:

“We realise the magnitude of the opportunity and are excited to deliver on it. Our remake of Cockcrow at Dawn will be a game-changer for television storytelling in Nigeria,” said Atiya.

The remake set to begin filming in Jos, Plateau State in the second quarter of 2026 will employ cutting-edge film technology and aims to reach both local and international audiences.

The journey begins this October with the creation of a writers’ room and story development workshop, where the new adaptation will take shape before moving into full production.

ITK, known for creating over 6,000 hours of television content for DSTV and Netflix, has produced hits such as The Rishantes, Sons of the Caliphate, Halita, W.A.R – Wrath and Revenge, and Wings.

Natives Filmworks, on the other hand, has built a reputation for producing some of Nigeria’s most critically acclaimed films, including 93 Days, A Place in the Stars, Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, and First Features the Amazon Prime supported slate that empowers first-time directors.

Together, the three partners aim to deliver a remake that honours the legacy of Cockcrow at Dawn while resonating powerfully with a new generation.