By Anthonia Soyingbe,
Senior Reporter, Lagos.
Optima Media Group (OMG) and lead sponsor of popular reality show, Nigerian Idol, Etisalat Nigeria have unveiled season five of the reality show last Wednesday at a media launch in Lagos.
Speaking at the launch, the Executive Director of OMG, Mrs Ugochi Pedro noted that the reality show has established its mark as a leading talent hunt platform that is providing needed opportunities for budding music stars to be discovered and nurtured for stardom.
“For five years running, we have been on this interesting journey of changing lives and helping people achieve life dreams. The key thing for us is to see these discovered talents become the real stars they are designed to be. We are taking this commitment to a new level this season. Nigerians can expect many exciting moments ahead,” she said.
Mrs Pedro also enjoined young Nigerians with promising career in music to take advantage of the Nigerian Idol platform to showcase themselves on a global stage while creating a career path for themselves.
Also speaking, Enitan Denloye, Director, Brands and Experience described this edition of the Nigerian Idol show as “a season of differentiation” that will be raising the bar in every aspect of the show. He stated that part of the expectations would be to see young musical talent that will bring about the value of creativity into music.
Nigerian Idol is in its fifth season after a successful debut in 2010 won by Yeka Onka. In the following years which saw the emergence of Mercy Chinwo, Moses Adigwe and Zebili Evelyn (Evelle), it has grown in popularity and followership on the basis of the unique platforms it offers to young Nigerians with exceptional music talent. It is the only music TV reality show in Nigeria with a global appeal that currently cuts across 46 countries.
Meanwhile, three celebrity judges have been unveiled for the season. They include Afrobeat star, Dede Mabiaku, Vocalist Yinka Davies and R’n’ B crooner, Dare ‘Art’ Alade. Interestingly, the trio have featured in these roles in past editions.
In a related development, Collins Tadeniawo has emerged the season five Press Idol after topping the pole in a Karaoke-style singing competition exclusive to members of the press. He was awarded a cash prize of a thousand US Dollars for his efforts.
The reality show focuses on discovering Nigerian youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom. The eventual winner goes home with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new car, a recording deal worth N7.5 million and some high-end devices. Auditions are expected to continue with Port Harcourt playing host in the weekend of January 16 -18. Other centres that will follow suit include Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos. It would be recalled the Benin auditions were held last weekend.
Nigerian Idol season five will feature performances by past winners of the show.
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