By IFECHI OKOH

Acquiring certificates, especially a formal first degree in Nigeria, is quite elevating, socially. But then, it is not the ultimate because most persons without certificates are getting on better than a bunch of those have them. In this edition, we are showcasing five showbiz celebrity acts who have no formal first degree certificates. On the showcase are: Tuface Idibia, 9ice, DBanj, Whizkid and Don Jazzy.

TUFACE IDIBIA

This velvet voice act, embraced and applauded for this gift, attended St Gabriel’s Secondary School, Makurdi, Benue State. From there, he went straight to the Institute for Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Enugu State where he did his preliminary OND programme, but couldn’t pursue his HND because of the incursion of music in his stride for HND certificate in Business Administration and Management. It's on good source that while he was in School, he performed regularly on campus-packaged shows and parties. He was said to have been neck-deep in the showbiz concern which actually discouraged him from pursuing his HND programme. Luckily for him, today he is simply applauded as an icon on the Nigerian beats scene. What could be more dignifying than that?

9ICE

His real name is Alex Abolore Adegbola Adigun Alapomeji. But he is addressed as 9ice on the beats scene. Most times, he sings with any of the names or even sing with all in an album. His stage name has since swallowed the others inevitably, as fans prefer to call him 9ice most times. The celebrated act born on January 17, 1980, actually attended the Abule Okuta Primary School and CMS Secondary School, Bariga, Lagos. His talent in music started rearing its head when 9ice set out formally as a native music singer. However, he gained admission into LASU where he was pursuing a degree in Law. But, sadly, his love and deep involvement in music, soon forced him to turn his back on Law and he face music squarely. Since he started to mind this business, the Gongoaso music promoter clinched the “Revelation of the Year Award” and “Best Male Vocalist Performer Award” at the 2008 edition of the Hip-Hop Awards held in Nigeria.

DBANJ

He was born Oladapo Daniel Oyebanji on June 9, 1980, to a retired Army officer. But on the Nigerian beats scene, fans call him DBanj or Mensah in Ghana. He is simply a fine song writer, arranger, and performer whose stage outings are a strong reminder of that of late Afrobeat Maverick, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. DBanj who is also a harmonica player, perches atop an expansive chain of businesses. The top act reportedly dropped out of the University as a 300 hundred level student of Mechanical Engineering. But today, he has pushed that behind, living it big as a celebrated act through shows and endorsements. He has clinched some awards to show for his musical talent.

WHIZKID

This top and diminutive act, many maintain, is just lucky by any measurement. The well-known songster, arranger and singer was born in 1990 as Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun. He started singing at the age of 11 years and he did this for years, even during his secondary school days, until he gained admission to Lead City University, abroad. But his interest in music kept clashing severally with that of his studies. It was at this point that he started thinking of the possibility of dumping school for full-time career in the music industry. So when he finally met Banky W, the opportunity for him to further actualize his being a musician threw itself at him. At this time, he embraced it by joining Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) owned and managed by Banky W. This was the beginning of putting his career on track. Interestingly, there was an impressive synergy between Banky W and himself. Both actually put heads together musically, which led to few hits that made the talent of Whizkid to come into focus. It was under the watchful eyes and guidance of Banky W that Wizkid started to grow steadily until he eventually made it big through steady releases of hits.

DON JAZZY

His real name is Michael Collins Ajaro. Since his youth days, he has been answering that name until his latent talent jumped out as a producer of high standing who really has used his talent to turn around the music of every musician on his Mohits record label, making them overnight stars. He carried that pride and feat to his newly established Marvin Records. Jazzy’s rise as a showbiz czar which stem from his talent, may have explained why he dropped off with confidence from 100 Level at Ambrose Alli University, before fully delving into music with all his mind and body. Today, he is on top of the world as the don of the Nigerian music production.

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