The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has announced the remake of the classic television series ‘Cock Crow at Dawn’ after signing an exclusive co-production deal with Steve Gukas’ Natives Filmworks and Dimbo Atiya’s Innovative Television Kontent (ITK).
Announced during the 9 PM Network News yesterday, the agreement, which was finalised on October 2, 2025, will see the partners produce an initial 104 episodes of the reboot, set to begin filming in the second quarter of 2026 in Jos, Plateau State.
“We are excited to bring what was a much-loved series back to our screens,” said NTA Director-General Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos. “The timing couldn’t be better, given the federal government’s renewed 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.”
Executive Director of Programmes Tari Taylaur described the remake as the first step in NTA’s plan to revive classic titles from its archive. “Remaking ‘Cock Crow at Dawn’ is part of our efforts to bring back gems in our catalogue that we believe will resonate with today’s audiences,” she said. “We’re confident we’ve found the right partners in Natives Filmworks and ITK.”
Originally created by Grace Egbagbe, directed by Matt Dadzie, and produced by Peter Igho, ‘Cock Crow at Dawn’ premiered in April 1980 on NTA and ran for 104 episodes.
Financed by the United Bank for Africa, it was created as part of then-president Shehu Shagari’s Green Revolution Initiative to promote farming as a profitable venture.
The series became one of the network’s most beloved dramas, introducing household names such as George Menta, Tola Awobode Akinjobi Cattage, Karim Yero, Ene Oloja, and Sadiq Daba. Its theme song was written by Bongos Ikwue.
For Dimbo Atiya, the project marks a career milestone. “This is one of the highlights of my career, as I see this as a national assignment and an opportunity to raise the bar in TV production,” he said. “We sincerely thank the NTA management for this opportunity. NTA is back.”
ITK, co-founded by Atiya, has produced over 6,000 hours of television, including ‘The Rishantes’, ‘Sons of the Caliphate’, ‘Halita’, and ‘Wrath and Revenge’. The company’s film credits include ‘Still Falling’ and ‘Drawing Strength’.
Natives Filmworks, led by Steve Gukas, is known for ’93 Days’, ‘A Place in the Stars’, ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’, and the Amazon Prime-backed First Features Project slate for debut directors.
“We’re incredibly proud to partner with NTA on this national treasure,” Gukas said. “It’s a wonderful chance to show how far the industry has come since the 1980s. We’ll pull in the very best from across the industry to deliver on its promise.”
Pre-production for the series begins this month with a writers’ room and story workshop. Once completed, the reboot will air weekly on NTA’s network service and target both local and international distribution.
