In a rare show of appreciation for exceptional talent, the three celebrity judges on the Nigerian Idol season five, Dare ‘Art’ Alade, Yinka Davies and Dede Mabiaku, demonstrated their commitment to helping budding music talents realise their dreams when they offered to pay for the flight ticket of a contestant at the Abuja Auditions held at the weekend.
24 years-old Ame Igiri had hoped for an opportunity to showcase what talent she is after failing to scale the first screening hurdle at the Port Harcourt auditions a week earlier.
Thankfully, a female friend saw her determination and undertook to sponsor her trip by road from Enugu where she has been residing since moving from Calabar, Cross River four years ago.
“I was not expecting that,” began an elated Ame. “During my audition, I flopped at some point, but I want to believe my finishing did the magic. I was highly favoured. God just did it for me because it came as a surprise.”
Ame was also the first contestant at the Abuja auditions to be awarded a Golden Ticket by the judges, thus making her one of the top 100 contestants for the top 12 slots. The Golden Ticket is usually awarded to any exceptional talent identified by the judges in a unanimous decision.
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.
Nigerian Idol 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 in Ibadan at Kakanfo Inn, Ring Road in the weekend of January 31 and February 1. Lagos will host the last leg a week after at the Dream Studios, Omole 1. It would be recalled that same have been concluded in Benin and Port Harcourt.
Nigerian Idol season five is sponsored by leading telecommunications operator, Etisalat, Dabur toothpaste and E-Commerce platform, Payporte and will feature such enthralling performances which were the hallmarks of past winners among whom are Yeka Onka, Mercy Chinwo, Moses Adigwe and Evelle whose name is Zibili Evelyn.