By By Habeeb Ibrahim
Young creatives across Ikorodu Division are set to get a new platform to showcase their talents as Ikorodu Oga Radio and TV announces the maiden edition of its talent competition, Ikorodu Division’s Got Talent.
The competition, announced on September 12, is part of activities marking the 10th anniversary of the online community radio and television platform.
According to the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ikorodu Oga Radio and TV, Omo’ba ’Peju Akinyemi, the competition is aimed at creating opportunities for young people in the division to gain visibility, mentorship and economic opportunities through their creative abilities.
Akinyemi said the decision to organise the competition followed the discovery of creative talents across different parts of Ikorodu Division who, according to him, lack platforms to showcase their abilities.
“Having operated in Ikorodu for the period of one decade, we have taken note of the massive availability of creative talents across different parts of Ikorodu Division, hence the need to offer them a strategic platform for visibility and mentoring which many of them currently lack,” he said.
The initiative builds on previous talent-focused activities organised by Ikorodu Oga Radio and TV, including the Made-in-Ikorodu Business Awards and the “You Think You Can Sing?” Music Challenge.
Akinyemi said the new competition represents an expansion of the organisation’s efforts to identify and promote talents within the division.
He also linked the initiative to concerns around youth unemployment and insecurity, saying the creative sector could provide young people with opportunities to develop their skills and earn a living.
“As responsible corporate citizens of Ikorodu Division, we have decided not to join the bandwagon, by complaining or lamenting,” Akinyemi said.
He added that the organisation intends to address what he described as idleness and hunger among young people by harnessing their creative skills for economic empowerment.
The competition is expected to bring together talents from different parts of Ikorodu Division as the organisers begin receiving entries for the maiden edition.
