A 21-year-old boy from Rivers State, Elvis Luna, has emerged the overall winner of the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Talent Hunt (NIDETH) organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Luna, a budding talent in music, was declared the winner by judges out of the 10 persons shortlisted from the nine Niger Delta states for the grand finale that took place at the weekend in Port Harcourt.
The excited Luna, whose songs captivated the large audience, received a key to a brand new 2023 car and a performance trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with Harrison Tare Okiri, aka
Harrysong, a popular musician and songwriter.
NIDETH was initiated by the NDDC Interim Administrator, Dr. Efiong Akwa, through his Special Adviser on Youths Udengs Eradiri and supported by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana.
Akwa, who expressed delight at the success of the programme, said it was designed to harness the talents of young people in the region and to expose them to opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Akwa, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Technical Matters, Ubongabasi James, said the programme gave the youths an opportunity to showcase their talents.
He commended the efforts of the NIDETH organising team, led by musician and songwriter, Harrison Tare Okiri, professionally known as Harrysong, for putting up a spectacular event.
In his welcome address, the NDDC Director Youth and Sports, Mr. Offiong Ephraim, said that the commission placed premium on regular engagements with youths of the Niger Delta region.
He said: “The Niger Delta Talent Hunt is a youth development programme aimed at harnessing the entertainment potential of the Niger Delta youths. Talented youths from the nine Niger Delta States participated in the auditions, which took place in Edo, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states.”
“The project aims at building the capacity of the Niger Delta youths for wealth creation through entertainment. The ten finalists have demonstrated world class talents.”
Eradiri on his part said the NDDC had been rebranded under Akwa and Minister Umana to get closer to the people, fill the void by creating opportunities for people to express themselves.
He said: “It is exciting that for the past one month, we’ve been going form one state to the other trying to identify these talents and we thank God that today people have seen that truly talents abound in the Niger Delta.
“We are going to begin with the second phase immediately, as well as the sports talent hunt where we will be going to communities to identify football talents .
Government alone cannot create the jobs that we desire. But government, is to create the opportunities, the platforms for people to excel using their God given talent or talents that they have acquired.
Eradiri, a former President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, said the NDDC would continue to give hope to the people to enable them actualise their dreams.
“This should be an opportunity for people who do not have hope to say because there is an NDDC, I can go to school because there is an NDDC I can showcase my talent. I can move my goods from one point to the other because there is an NDDC. The NDDC truly being an Interventionist Agency, is beginning to do its work and I’m excited I’m part of it”, he said.
In his remarks, Harrysong commended the NDDC for changing the narratives saying the Niger Delta was not about oil theft and restiveness but about bundle of unharnessed talents.
He said: “I want to assure everyone that the winner, Elvis, is not going to disappoint you. Hits will be coming back to back, he is not only going to be a hit maker but Elvis Luna, is already a movement to the world”.
Luna commended NDDC for giving them the platform to showcase their talents and urged all youths seeking opportunities not to give up on their dreams.
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