Encomium
– Carts away N4 million, recording deal with Universal Record
Airtel Nigeria, one of the leading telecommunication outfits in Nigeria has empowered youths that love music with Airtel Trace Music Star. The competition which was in conjunction with Trace Urban TV ended on Friday, February 28, 2015, with Okotete Enajite emerging the overall winner.
The grand finale held at the Ocean View Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the winner carting away with the cash prize of N4million, a chance of a record deal with Universal Records and also to represent Nigeria at the pan Africa grand finale with representative from 13 other African countries in Kenya in March 2015.
Airtel Trace Star is the first African mobile phone competition. The initiative is for youths across the country to express music on phone without travelling around Nigeria. Airtel Nigeria has given this opportunity to Nigerian youths by empowering them with its services to reach and participate in the contest, which has eventually produced a national championship, among others, like Tejiri Odigboro, Omotayo Otitoju; Pearl Awa Agwu and Yetunde Adeyanju who reached the final stage of the national competition.
The elated Enajite, commenting on her victory said: “I am so excited…truly grace has brought me this far. I wish to say a very big thank you to Airtel Nigeria and Trace Urban TV for this initiative and supporting Nigerian youths. Also, I thank my family, friends and fans that supported me all through the competition. I promise to keep the flag flying high and better things to come.
The judges who oversaw the selection of the finalists and the winners were veteran broadcast and entertainment expert, Olisa Adibua; ace producer and song writer, Cobham Asuquo and multiple award winning artiste, Lara George.
The event was hosted by Beat FM and Industry Nite’s host, Jimmie and comedienne/OAP, Chigurl. Nigeria’s king of rap, Vector Tha Viper thrilled. The King Kong hit maker performed alongside other prominent artistes like Falz, Joe el, Ice Prince. Also present at the event was Sexy Steel and Adams of Soundcity.
Speaking at the event, Maurice Newa, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, said Airtel Nigeria has been in the forefront of empowering Nigerian youths through various credible platforms with the sponsorship of top entertainment and talent-hunt projects such as Nigeria’s Got Talent, which has provided opportunities for thousands of youths to take their skills to the next level. The Telco also recently initiated another music talent show tagged Airtel One Mic with the aim of discovering young talents in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Another robust platform created by Airtel Nigeria to empower youths is the yearly Airtel Rising Stars championship which was conceived to discover youths, both male and female, with football talent across Nigeria.
Trace, an international media group, has deep African roots and is a major promoter of African music. It runs five music TV channels across Africa and currently it airs videos by numerous A-list African artistes in 160 countries through its network of music and sports celebrity TV channels. Trace Urban is available on DSTV Channel 322, while Trace Sports Stars is currently available on DSTV channel 188.
