Glo’s ‘Professor Johnbull’ pushes for attitudinal change
With the curtain coming down on the first season of the popular Glo-sponsored ‘Professor Johnbull’ series on UTV, it has been clearly established that drama, clothed in ample doses of humour, is an effective tool for attitudinal change.
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The television drama series is built around the personal experiences of a retired Professor Johnbull (Kanayo O. Kanayo). The affairs of his family, neighbours, friends and other acquaintances, however, all dovetail into an half hour production of useful lessons for family enjoyment.
It has managed to create an image for itself as a vehicle for social change and moral revival in a modern African context where the prized values society cherished so much are on the verge of being ditched.
The first episode, ‘Claimant,’ dealt with the issue of impersonation. It was a well-told lesson for young people to believe in themselves and not be carbon copies of others for vain recognition.
The second episode, Eliza, My Daughter, was a direct charge at parents to try and understand their children and stop being overly suspicious of them.
The third episode, Sorting Things, threw a jab at the matter of corruption in the academic world. Professor Johnbull had to petition the Senate of a school to get a lecturer suspended for what he considered as a ‘crime against intellect!’
In the fourth episode titled Foreign Petrol, viewers saw how a few people consumed by their lust for money, made their compatriots suffer through their inordinate desire to enrich themselves in a period of national scarcity.
In the fifth episode, the series dissected the issue of stars and humble living. Featuring the Nigerian superstar, Flavour, a Glo brand ambassador, the episode entitled, ‘A Good Flavour’, debunked the notion that celebrities should be deified and should not be seen helping out at home.
Marital fraud was the focus of the sixth episode. In ‘Half Bread and Puff-Puff’, viewers saw how some ladies would jump at man simply because he is based abroad.
The seventh episode was tagged ‘Baby & Bomboi’ and it dealt with discriminatory acts against the girl-child and the widespread preference for boys in our typically patriarchal African society.
Indecent dressing was the focus of the eighth episode called ‘Happening Guys.’ It threw light on the habit which has been embraced across different age brackets and genders.
In the ninth episode, viewers had the opportunity of knowing how our collective actions impact positively or otherwise on public health in exhilarating dramatic piece called ‘Mobile Dustbin.’
The fact that all the episodes ended with significant lessons and warnings to help viewers recollect the valuable ideas imparted portrayed the serious of the programme makers to affect lives positively.
Some of the top-flight actors and comedians in ‘Professor Johnbull’ include Kanayo O. Kanayo, Mercy Johnson-Okogie, Ime Bishop Okon, Queen Nwokoye, Bovi and AY, Chiwetalu Agu, O.C. Ukeje, Mama G and Helen Paul.