Today is a unique one in the career of award-winning artiste, Yemi Alade, as Shell Nigeria has released a music video titled On Top of the World, in which it features her alongside Oscar-winning Jennifer Hudson and other leading artistes.
The production is part of the oil company’s empowerment and clean energy initiatives across the world.
Apart from Alade and Hudson, British singer Pixie Lott, Luan Santana, and Indian act, Monali Thakur, also feature in the video. Each of the artistes represents a continent, meaning that Alade is also representing Africa.
Apart from showcasing the artistes in their bright forms, the video also uses suave animation to help each of them demonstrate the impact of clean energy projects supported by Shell around the world, including Nigeria, Brazil, China, the US, Kenya, India, Germany and the UK.
Some of the projects are Insolar, which provides solar energy access to low income communities in Brazil; GravityLight, which creates sustainable and cleaner electricity for families and children in Kenya; Shell Natural Gas, which, according to the company, enables cleaner cooking with natural gas, saving families invaluable time in India.
Others are the Shell Foundation Clean Cookstoves and Shell Hydrogen, said to be creating additional cleaner transport choices for the future in the USA, Germany and the UK.
On Top of the World is part of Shell’s #makethefuture global energy relay, which began in 2016 with the presentation of the ‘Best Day of My Life music video, which became one of the most viewed online videos of the year.
According to the General Manager External Relations of Shell Nigeria, Igo Weli, the firm believes that the partnership with the artistes will impact on the success of the project.
He said at a briefing in Lagos on Thursday, “This array of award-winning music stars is to draw many people into the conversation around access to more and cleaner energy. Leveraging the power of music underscores the universal importance of the energy relay and the need for collaboration among business, communities, entrepreneurs, influencers and citizens.”
According to him, the On Top of the World video will be live today on the Shell YouTube page, and will be accompanied by a suite of “Energy Explainer” films where people can find out more about each of the initiatives.
Alade noted that her experience on the project was inspiring, while lauding Shell for the initiative.
She said, “Music offers a good platform to draw attention to the energy needs of the world and the potential of new clean energy solutions. This is particularly true in Nigeria where we are working hard to provide the energy that the nation badly needs to develop. I’m happy to be part of this energy relay to encourage people to look at the innovative side of life. This is what the #makethefuture campaign seeks to achieve in the energy space.
“My role is to lend my voice, my talent to the cause. My music has gone far. But it is now the time to make the future. Experience has shown me that this initiative works. The projects that Shell is giving life to are created by regular people. The lesson is that you shouldn’t keep complaining. Be the solution.”
The Shell management expressed delight that Alade justified the confidence that the company invested in her in the course of the project.
The firm’s External Relations Communication Manager, Mrs. Sola Abulu said, “We considered a lot of things before we decided that she is the one most suitable for the campaign. We have seen her grow and we have seen her performance in the video alongside with other global stars. We saw in her something that would be useful for the campaign. Hearing her speak today has further justified that impression. She brought her personality into it. She has made the campaign her own story.”
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