With N7.5 million cash, a brand new car and a recording contract worth N7.5 million, contestants at the Etisalat Communications sponsored Nigerian Idol season 5 will be in battle mood when production resumes this week, following the formal unveiling of the top 12 finalists last Saturday in Lagos. 

The top 12 finalist had emerged from more than 10,000 auditions held in five cities, numerous performances, eviction shows and a public voting process to slug it out for a chance at stardom in the music television reality show.

The contestants who are going to be competing in the top 12 phase are Ogunmoyero Modolowamu (Dolu), an indigene of Ogun State; Ekeoma Victor Chibuzor (Prime), a 23-year old from Abia State; Esther Aritheshoma Monday (Sther), a graduate of Theatre Arts from Niger Delta University; Godson Goodluck (Classic Tunez), a Naval officer and Ogunrombi Kunle (K-Peace), an exceptional music act who got the attention of the judges with his fuji rendition of the John Legend ‘All of you’ classic, at the Lagos regional audition.

Others are; Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun (Preye), Janet Ebiwari Ayoka (Ayoka), Adigwe Brenda Ada (Brenda), Paul Manuwa (P.Scholes), Okemiri Uloma Margaret (Uloma), Omodele Diana  Fatoki (Modele) and Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan (Nex2).

Speaking at the top 12 unveiling ceremony, Saturday, in Lagos, Rotimi Pedro, Chief Executive Officer, Optimal Media Group (OMG), franchise owner of Nigerian Idol, said the next time Nigerians would see the contestants will be in battle mode because the show had reached the point where the boys were separated from the men.

“We are happy that we have got to the point where we can unveil the top 12. We know that not everybody can sing, even though everyone thinks they can sing, that is why we have the judges who had done a great job of pruning down the numbers from more than 5,000 participants to the top 12 we are unveiling now,”  he said.

Pedro said further: “The stage is now set for the contestants to bring in what they have to the table. To this end we are proud of what we have seen so far and continue to appreciate our sponsors who have supported us all the way.”.

Meanwhile, K-Peace told News Express that people should expect originality from his performances. He said his best weapon would continue to be dishing out western rhythm in fuji tunes. 

Nigerian Idol focuses on discovering Nigerian youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom. The eventual winner goes home with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new car, a recording deal worth N7.5 million with South Africa-based Universal Music label and some high-end devices. Season five is sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with eCommerce platform Payporte, So-Kleen, Dabur Toothpaste, Tantalizers, Cool Fm and Cadbury Nigeria.

•Photo shows Nigerian Idol Season 5 contestants.