Article
By Bolarinwa Akande
The 4th edition of musical reality show, Nigerian Idol may have come and gone, but one of the sponsors, Pepsi, is still basking in the euphoria of the successful outcome of the show, which last Saturday, produced a music sensation,Zibili Evelyn Ibhade, alias ‘Evelle’, who can’t wait to storm the entertainment space.
Pepsi, the official beverage sponsor of the show, in a statement, quoted the Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Norden Thurston, as saying: “Pepsi likes to associate with processes that evolve stars of the future, that is why we have been supporting Nigerian Idol since inception.”
According to Thurston the two key youth events associated with Pepsi are football and music. “We have been supporting sports over the years and have many football brand ambassadors like Stephen Keshi, Victor Moses, Daniel Amokachi, Elderson Echiejile and Osaze Odewingie, while Pepsi music ambassadors are Tiwa Savage, Wizkid and Lynxxx”, he explained. He said Pepsi is happy to be part of the platform that grooms future music stars in Nigeria who will be ready to take the world in few years to come.
The Managing Director of Optima Media Group, the organisers of the show, Mr. Rotimi Pedro, thanked Pepsi and other sponsors noting that: “Pepsi is a true partner that has been refreshing the contest from the beginning to this point.” Pedro said Nigerian Idol is the biggest music TV reality show in Nigeria with over 22,000 followers on twitter, 61,000 Facebook followers and a million downloads, with millions of Nigerians glued to their TV screens to watch the show every weekend.”
The season !V winner, Evelle, shed tears of joy as she gave her speech “My mother is sick and currently in the hospital receiving treatment, I need to see her with this happy news and I am sure it will make her get better. I have tried to enter this contest for a very long time and those who know me can testify to this. I am so happy to have won it.”
The event also had exciting performances from Tuface Idibia, who thrilled the audience from his rich repertoire. Ace comedian, Bovi, cracked ribs at will with his jokes, while Moses, the season three winner of Nigerian Idol, performed his new single entitled Egwu.