Airtel One Mic: Monja, Wenegha emerge winners in Abuja and PH

A Theatre Arts Undergraduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Ekundayo Monja, has emerged winner of the North Region final of Airtel One Mic, a musical talent-hunt competition for tertiary institutions created by leading telecom service provider, Airtel Nigeria.

The competition, which was held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, featured five other finalists, comprising two students each from University of Abuja, Nassarawa State University and another from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in keen contest for the star prize of a brand new KIA Picanto and a recording deal.

Monja, also known as LASE, was adjudged winner by the judges; Jesse Jagz, Black Magic and Masterkraft, after a thorough assessment of the contestants based on creativity, appearance, stage performance and connection with crowd during the freestyle, acapella and studio recorded track performances.

Raphael John aka Ray Jey, a Mass Communication undergraduate and Faisal Sanusi also known as Killuminati, a student of Psychology represented Nassarawa State University while Olawale Amao, aka Walzee, a Student of Political Science and his brother, Kunle aka Kronic appeared for UniAbuja. 

Kevin Godwin Gaiya aka Kevin Words, also a Theater Arts Undergraduate of ABU as well as LASE made up the list of the finalists.

Earlier in the East Region final of the competition held in Port Harcourt, a first year Music undergraduate of University of Port Harcourt, Olumuyiwa Jeffery Wenegha, outperformed five other zonal finalists to win the star prize.

The six finalists comprised two students each from University of Port Harcourt, University of Calabar and Institute of Management Technology (IMT), the institutions grouped under the East Region of the competition.

Wenegha, whose stage name is Acetune, was declared winner by the trio of rap artistes Phyno, Ill Bliss and Masterkraft who were the judges for the competition, which was held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Samuel Ndude, aka Success, a first year National Diploma Mechanical Engineering student of IMT and Kei Ndutimi, alias Timi Kay, a 200 Level Geology Student of Uniport clinched the second and third places respectively.

The North final marks the successful conclusion of the music talent hunt competition which made waves among students across Nigeria. Alongside Monja and Wenegha, the competition, which first took place in May, has produced three other regional winners.

Temidayo Omoniyi, aka ‘Zlatan’, an ND 1 Business Administration Student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY) emerged the first winner of the competition after defeating other contestants from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeaokuta and The Bells University, Otta.

The second regional contest which comprised six finalists from University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology and Lagos State University was won by Oladotun Alade, aka ‘Dotman’, a second year undergraduate of the University of Lagos, while another second year 200 level Psychology student of Ekiti State University, Alalade Ololade, popularly called ‘Jay Dreamz’ defeated other finalists from University of Ibadan and University of Ilorin to win the West Region final.

Speaking on the objective of the initiative, Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa, explained that Airtel One Mic was designed to discover and promote musical talent from tertiary institutions in Nigeria, in line with the company’s commitment to consistently encourage and empower Nigerian youths towards achieving their dreams through various identified passion points

He reiterated the Telco’s commitment to continue to provide enabling platforms which will empower talented youths to actualise their dream.

“As a youth centric organisation, we are committed to empowering talented youths across the country by providing and supporting enabling platforms that will not only provide them the ladder to success but also create opportunities for them to harness their skills professionally,” he said.