NTA, Natives Filmworks, and Innovative Television Kontent (ITK) have signed a deal to remake Cock Crow At Dawn, the classic Nigerian TV series from the 1980s. The deal announces an initial 104-episode order and is expected to return to primetime on NTA in 2026.
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The original series, celebrated for its agricultural themes, launched the careers of Sadiq Daba, Ene Oloja, and George Menta, becoming a weekly staple in households across the country. Notably, as early as 2022, director Tosin Igho (Suspicion) announced via Instagram that he was working on a reboot of Cock Crow At Dawn in collaboration with Peter Igho, producer of the original series. With this new agreement, however, it appears NTA has chosen to move forward with Natives Filmworks and ITK instead.
The deal was made public on October 6, after NTA opened the door to pitches for the remake. ITK and Natives Filmworks submitted a joint bid, which was eventually selected. A writers’ room will be established this month with yet-to-be-announced writers, while filming is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026 in Jos. The production forms part of NTA’s renewed efforts to revive original fictional programming, a strategy the network has been shaping throughout the year.
“Remaking Cock Crow at Dawn is the first step in our determination to bring back gems from 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,” said NTA’s Executive Director of Programmes, Tari Taylaur. “I am confident we have found the right partners in Natives Filmworks and ITK, who have both consistently delivered riveting, world-class content.”
NTA’s Director-General, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, added: “We are excited to bring back what was a much-loved series. The timing couldn’t be better, given the Federal Government’s push to increase interest and participation in agriculture. It feels almost like a full-circle moment when you think of the conditions that birthed the show in the first place.”
Steve Gukas, co-founder of Natives Filmworks, described the remake as both an honour and a responsibility: “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 this holds. It’s a chance for the industry to showcase how far it has come since the first run of the series in the 1980s. We will pull in the very best in all spheres of the industry to deliver on that promise.”
Natives Filmworks is best known for Living in Bondage: Breaking Free and, more recently, its First Features project on Prime Video. The company is also set to release Toluwani Obayan Osibe’s Colour Me True in November, starring Shalewa Ashafa and Bucci Franklin, marking the 10th title from its slate dedicated to first-time directors.
ITK, led by Dimbo Atiya, has created over 6,000 hours of television content for DSTV and Netflix, including The Rishantes, Sons of the Caliphate, Halita, and W.A.R: Wrath and Revenge.
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