As the Idols train glided purposefully first to Abuja and then Port Harcourt, aspiring voices in Owerri waited for a chance to be auditioned for the spot of the next Nigerian Idol.

Though Saturday, October 20, 2012 began with heavy rainfall, this didn’t stop the young and talented from flooding Imo Concorde hotel, the audition venue.

“I got to realize that the Nigerian Idol Owerri audition was on my birthday and I saw it as a sign from God to go ahead and fulfill my dreams because music is all I have ever dreamt about,” said Moses Babalola, one of the contestants from Benin. Jennifer Eke, a physically challenged contestant, added that “music has helped me through my challenge and there is no better way to demonstrate my love for music except through the Idol platform.”

As usual, lead sponsor Etisalat was on hand to ease the tension and entertain the hopefuls. There was music and comedy – headlines by Kay Switch who performed his hit song, ‘Sister Caro’, Wizboy who performed his song, ‘Onwusagie and Infinity’ and Obiwon, who performed his new single, ‘Father’ as well as his all time hit song, ‘Obi Mu O’.

“Owerri impressed me greatly,” said Femi Kuti, Afrobeat legend and one of the judges for this season. “All of the states have given really good talent to the show, but Owerri had the higher level of originality, as a good number of the contestants had their personal compositions. I am very anxious to see what Benin has in stock for us on Saturday.”

The Nigerian Idol auditions now move to Benin on 3 November and will hold at Constantial Hotels 24/26 Airport Road opposite Benin Airport Exit Gate, Benin City, Edo while Lagos will host the grand finale on 9 and 10 November, 2012.

This season’s prize is valued at $100,000 and the elements are thus; N7.5 million cash, a recording contract worth N7.5million and an SUV. To register for the subsequent auditions, please visit:
http://www.nigerianidol.com/ or
http://nigerianidol.com/registration.php.

For more information, visit the website http://www.Nigerianidol.com/, like on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Nigerian-Idol or follow on Twitter on www.Twitter.com/NigerianIdol. Nigerian Idol is brought to you by
Etisalat in association with Pepsi.