Young talents from Abia State have showcased their creativity and artistic abilities at the grand finale of the Rising Gem Talent Discovery Show, held at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Safe Tent Care Initiative (STCI), was designed to discover, promote and nurture young talents aged between 10 and 25 in singing, dancing, poetry and other performing arts.
Following auditions conducted across the three senatorial zones of Abia State, 13 finalists emerged to compete for the top prizes.
At the end of the keenly contested event, Malachy Chinemerem Gideon emerged winner, receiving ₦5 million. Godswill Rachel secured the first runner-up position with a prize of ₦2 million, while Jane Kingsley Ota emerged second runner up, winning ₦1 million.
The remaining finalists received ₦500,000 each in recognition of their participation and talent.
Beyond the competition, the event also provided an opportunity for individuals, corporate organisations and other well wishers to support the Safe Tent Care Initiative and its humanitarian activities.
The organisers expressed appreciation to Mr. Martins Okey Justice, popularly known as J. Martins, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism and Entertainment, alongside the organising team and the chairman of the occasion, Chief James Chijioke Umeh, also known as Ike Abam, founder of the Unubiko Foundation.
The organisers also acknowledged the contributions of donors and supporters, particularly Governor Alex Otti’s wife, who expressed gratitude to her husband for his support for the initiative.
She described the event as an investment in the future of young people in Abia State, stressing that their talents deserve recognition, encouragement and opportunities for growth.
She further reaffirmed the need for sustained efforts to identify and nurture gifted young people, noting that the state has a wealth of talent that should be developed and supported.
The Rising Gem Talent Discovery Show underscores the role of talent development initiatives in creating opportunities for young people to showcase their abilities, build confidence and pursue careers in the creative industry.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
