Twelve contestants finally emerged over the weekend, to feature in the more tasking and professional top 12 phase of the Season 5 of the Nigerian Idol music reality show. The chosen 12 had scaled series of screening exercise hurdles, including stage performances and a public voting process, to emerge tops.

They include Ogunmoyero Modolowamu (Dolu), Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun (Preye), Janet Ebiwari Ayoka (Ayoka), Godson Goodluck (Classic Tunez), Ogunrombi Kunle (K-Peace), Esther Aritheshoma Monday (Sther), Adigwe Brenda Ada (Brenda), Ekeoma Victor Chibuzor (Prime), Paul Manuwa (P.Scholes), Okemiri Uloma Margaret (Uloma), Omodele Diana Fatoki (Modele) and Ese-Amadasun Imuetiyan (Nex2).

The contestants had initially had to qualify for the top 30 spot from a group of 100 most outstanding contestants pooled from the five auditions centres. It was a tricky road for them as they had to go through multi-layered theatre auditions, group stage performances cum public voting process and the Judges Wild Card.

To qualify for the top 12 phase from the top 30, the contestants were further grouped into three batches of 10 from which only three with the highest number of votes automatically moved into the top 12 spot. With nine spots in the top 12 pot taken through automatic qualification via the public voting process, the last three emerged through the judges’ wild card option following repeat performances involving 11 previously evicted contestants whom were called back to take a second shot at the opportunity for top 12 place.

The top 12 will now be involved in more tensed and professionally designed music lesson sessions capped by weekly performances before the three celebrity judges and live audience at the OMG Dream Studios, Ojodu, Lagos.

As in the top 30 Group Stage performances, the 12 contestants will also stand the test of the weekly public voting process until June when the eventual winner will emerge.

In a related development, Nigerian Idol franchise owners, Optima Media Group (OMG), in partnership with show sponsors Etisalat Nigeria, Payporte, S0-Kleen, Dabur, Tantalizers and Cadbury Nigeria, has concluded plans to present to the Nigerian public the top 12 contestants of the current season.

The public presentation, christened Top 12 Unveiling, is billed to hold during the weekend of April 25 at the OMG Dream Studios, Bamako Estate, Omole-Ojodu, Lagos.

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.

•Photo shows, L-R; Nigerian Idol Season 5 judges, Darey, Yinka Davies and Dede Mabiaku.

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