Optima Media Group, in partnership with telecoms giant, Etisalat Nigeria and carbonated drink, Pepsi has concluded plans for the successful take-off of the season five of reality TV show, Nigerian Idol. Other sponsors include Payporte and Dabur Herbal.

The unveiling of the annual music TV reality show is billed to hold in the first week of the New Year at a yet-to-be-disclosed venue in Nigeria’s entertainment capital, Lagos.

The event will also feature the public presentation of the three-man panel of celebrity judges for Season five and show modalities including procedures for participation in addition to the offer of opportunity for a press Idol to emerge through an on-the-spot singing competition that promises a reward prize of a thousand US dollars for the top performer of the day.

Group Managing Director of Optima Media Group, Rotimi Pedro, expressed delight in the potentials of the platform to offer talented Nigerian youths with flair for music the unique opportunity to express themselves on a global stage while creating a career path for themselves.

“We are delighted to be able to create the right and unique platforms across different fields for Nigerians to take advantage of and maximise their potentials. We have successfully done this over the years on a global stage as the Idol franchise provides. Our further commitment is to work with more partners in achieving this,” he said.

Nigerian Idol is the local version of the only music TV reality show with a global appeal that currently cuts across 46 countries.

The reality show focuses on discovering Nigerian youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom. The winner of the show will get N7.5 million, a Galaxy Tab, a phone, an iPod, a recording deal with Universal Music Company and a brand new SUV car. The first runner-up gets N1.5 million, a Galaxy Tab, phone and iPod and the 2nd runner up will receive N1million, a Galaxy Tab, phone and an iPod. In addition, each of the finalists from 4th to 10th place will also receive N100, 000, a Galaxy Tab, phone and an iPod.

Nigerian Idol season five during the season will feature exciting performances from past winners; Yeka Onka, Mercy Chinwo, Moses Obi-Adigwe and Evelle.

Nationwide auditions will hold between January and February 2015 across five Nigerian cities; Benin City, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Ibadan and Lagos while airing kicks off from March.

•Photo shows Nigerian Idol Season 4 winner Evelle.