Registration has opened for a new competition primarily aimed at the discovery of talents in the gospel genre of the Nigerian music industry.

The talent hunt programme, known as Most Talented Gospel Artist in Nigeria Competition (MTGAN), will afford several young Nigerians the opportunity of realising their long-held dreams of singing for God and also making a career out of it.

At a media briefing which held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, organisers of the show avowed that the inspiration for the talent hunt was according to a divine direction hence the uniqueness of the scheme.

According to the visioner, Bennie Ogbomo, unlike most talent hunt shows and events Nigerians are familiar with, this is not so based on winning the prizes at stake but aimed at the total development of participants with the eventual objective of giving glory to God through music.

“Gospel music has never been more popular than now, with its emotive power of winning hearts of the general public from all ages and backgrounds. Our initiative is to bring gospel (good news) artistes into the mainstream by bringing their music out of the churches and onto the world stage, laying a platform of empowerment, where anyone who truly desires, can compete into (achieving) relevance,” Ogbomo said.    

Speaking further, she said: “The Most Talented Gospel Artiste in Nigeria (MTGAN), which has the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation as well as the Federal Ministry of Youth and Development, is an empowerment platform to rescue the destinies of the children of God from the grip of Satan.”

Ogbomo added that participants are expected to register for the competition with a token of N1,000 and then forward details relating to payment, location and name to a dedicated phone number, 09093662664. She said upon the receipt of such from an intending participant, an identification number and other relevant information would be promptly sent to him or her.

While announcing the opening of registrations for the competition from June 3, she said people can register until July 31st when registrations are expected to close. 

Ogbomo disclosed that auditions would take place in four major cities in Nigeria, namely, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Benin, while the final is scheduled to come up on September 27.

Orgaisers said the winner of the competition will walk away with a paid trip to Dubai, a brand new Kia car, N250,000 and a recording contract. He or she will also get to represent Nigeria at an international gospel music competition.

Prizes for the 1st runner-up will include a paid trip to Dubai, N150,000 and a recording contract just as the 2nd runner-up will go on a paid trip to Ghana, bag a N100,000 cash and a recording contract.

Eminent personalities and ministers of God involved in the show include Pastor Wole Oladiyun; Bishop Isaac Idahosa; Rev. Tope Ogunoike; Bishop James Adekoya; Mrs. Pauline Nsa; Bishop Emilia Samuel; Rev. Bassey Ekpenyong; Wole Oni; Mr. Isaac Uhunwmangho; Pastor Lanre Saba; Dr. Samson Makinwa; and Pastor Joseph Okonmah, among others.