By Ikenna Nwokedi
The gospel music version of ‘Nigerian Idol’ will hold in December 2024 to unearth the next big star of gospel music in Anambra State aimed at promoting the music genre, producing new gospel music tunes for spiritual upliftment and worship to God Almighty.
These revelations were made by a gospel music promoter and a medical practitioner, Dr. Amaechi Chinedu Nwachukwu during an interview session with journalists in Awka.
Dr. Nwachukwu stated that his love for gospel music made him delve into the music genre proper by contributing towards the growth of the music industry through harnessing young talented and upcoming gospel artists by giving them a platform to sing on Live Radio Gospel programs.
Dr. Nwachukwu revealed that through his “Angelic Praise Hour” Radio programs which hold on Mondays on UNIZIK FM and ABS FM Radio Stations in Awka which started in January 2024, over a thousand talented gospel music singers have identified with the programme were they are given a platform to sign on Live Radio on weekly basis, with the audience deciding the winners who get a prize for their exploits and earn qualification for the monthly competition.
The Umunya born medical practitioner also informed that the monthly winners of the gospel music competition will earn a right to feature in the grand finale – ‘A gospel version of Nigerian Idol’ – scheduled to hold in December 2024 in the state with the winner taking home the sum of one million naira to encourage them do hit songs just like Mercy Chinwo, Rosemary Nwankwo and many others.
Nwachukwu said: “Because of my love for gospel music which is soul inspiring and promotes praise and worship to God, I decided to delve into the music industry by providing a platform to discover young and upcoming talented gospel music artists who wish to sing and produce gospel music but are finding it difficult to do so either as a result of lack of platforms, support and other forms of encouragement.
“Today through the ‘Angelic Praise Hour’, a Radio Program aimed at promoting gospel music which hold on Mondays on UNIZIK FM Radio and ABS Radio, we have been able connect with and discover over a thousand persons who have subscribed to our Facebook page showcasing interest to become the next big star in Nigeria in the field of gospel music.
“On our Radio programme, we have a competition on weekly basis were these persons call in to sing live on air and the winner is produced by the listening audience. The winner for the week gets a token prize and earns an automatic qualification for the monthly competition giving him or her the opportunity to sing in the upcoming grand finale in December which will be live on Television, Radio and Online just as we have in the ‘Nigerian Idol’ musical contest with the winner going home with sum of one million naira,” Nwachukwu stated.
Dr. Nwachukwu disclosed that he intends to raise an Angelic Praise Choir from the plethora of discovered gospel music talents in the course of the competition. He called on young talented gospel music lovers who have the voice to identify with the program, be bold enough to come out, showcase their talents and add value not just to their lives and families but also to the society at large.
Dr. Amaechi Chinedu Nwachukwu who hails from Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State is a consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and currently the MD/CEO of Princeton Specialist Hospital and Orthopaedic Centre, Ngozika Housing Estate, Awka, Anambra State.
