Etisalat-Sponsored Nigerian Idol 4 Concludes Search in Calaba, Moves to Benin

(L-R) Specialist, Events, Etisalat Nigeria, Dayo Adeyelure; Winner, Nigerian Idol season 3, Moses Obi-Adigwe; Nigerian Idol season 4 Judge, Nneka; and Director, Brands and Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye at the Calabar auditions of Nigerian Idol season 4 sponsored by Etisalat which held at Monty Suites, Calabar on Saturday, February 8th 2014.

Following the success of auditions in Benin and Port-Harcourt, it was the turn of Calabar, the third city in the series of auditions for exceptional music talents, to be a part of the Etisalat-sponsored music reality show, Nigerian Idol.

Youths in the culture-rich state of Cross River and its environs on Saturday the 8th of February made their way to Monty Suites in Calabar with the hope of getting the Judges’ approval for the next round of the competition. The city presented a number of surprises as each of the audition contestants put in their best performance.

(L-R) Nigerian Idol Season 4 Judges; Dede Mabiaku, Nneka and Darey Art-Alade; with Manager, Youth Segment Etisalat Nigeria, Idiare Atimomo during the Calabar auditions of Nigerian Idol season 4 sponsored by Etisalat

Director, Brands and Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye applauded the gusto with which the youths in the region came out for the auditions, saying that it is a testament to the abundance of talent in the country and the determination to showcase these talents. “Etisalat is proud to present an international music platform that celebrates passion and nurtures talents in Nigeria. This season promises to be bigger and better, and already we have witnessed that at every audition location we have had so far.” Denloye said.

Nineteen-year-old Dodeye Mbang was a bundle of nerves when it was her turn to meet the trio of Darey Art-Alade, Nneka and Dede Mabiaku, this Season’s Judges. Nonetheless, the petite 300-Level student of Zoology and Environmental Biology, at the University of Calabar gave quite an impressive rendition of the popular Whitney Houston track “Greatest Love of All”, earning her three ‘yesses’ from the Judges.

The Calabar auditions also turned out to be a place for second chances. This was the case for Paul Enoma, a graduate of Mathematics from the University of Benin, who got a ‘No’ from the Judges during the Benin auditions. He came to Calabar having taken learning from his previous audition to secure a spot in the next round of the competition. Enoma finally got the ‘yes’ he craved for.

It would be recalled that Yeka Onka, Nigerian Idol season 1 winner had a similar experience after she auditioned in Enugu, Calabar and finally Lagos where she got a ‘Yes’. The singer, who performs with her all-female band team and currently working on her album, was on hand to motivate the crowd during the auditions.

The next round of auditions will hold, for the first time, in Makurdi at the Smileview Hotel Extension on the 15th of February and finally in Lagos on the 22nd and 23rd of February at Dream Studios, Omole, Lagos.