Business
‘How I Intend to spend my N5Million grand prize’ -MTN Project fame Season 9 winner, Okiemute reveals
Project Fame, one of the biggest TV shows in Nigeria and West Africa generally has produced a lot of stars making waves all around the world. It produced Iyanya, Praiz, Chidinma,Olawale, Ayo, and many more.
However, the Season 9 of the show was just concluded some days back with another super star in the making,Okiemute Ighorodje as the winner. It was a great moment for her and her family as she was given a grand prize of N5Million, a Brand new SUV car and a recording deal worth millions of Naira
In an interview with SaharaWeekly’s Osho Oluwatosin, she revealed some topical issues about her career, how she will spend her money, the next step for her career and many more.
Excerpts below:
Q – Can you take us through your Background?
R – My name isOkiemute Ighorodje. I’m from Delta state, I’m 25-years old. I grew up in Delta state. I’m the third among four girls in my family. My dad is an Urhobo Man while my mum is a Delta-Igbo woman
Q – How do you intend to spend your money?
R – Money matter, dem no dey judge am o (laughs). We’ve had really great financial advisers come to the house and i picked one thing from each of them. All of them said one thing which is a very key thing. They said we should leave the money for a while and start thinking of what to do while keeping it away, and generate more funds.
Q – What’s the next step after Project fame?
R – Ahh, hard work. It doesn’t stop here.Infact, it has just started so it’s hard work, trying my best.
Q- Who were you close to among your colleagues?
R – I was close to Pere, because I’ve heard about him before then. We auditioned together from port-harcourt and before then, I’ve been hearing of Pere Davies. We’re musically inclined and as a singer, you get to hear about a particular musician who is equally good and the funny thing is there was a group where we share gospel truth, fact, ideas about God, Pere was there in that group too but the funny thing Is I didn’t even know. I just knew there was a Pere Davies but I wasn’t really looking forward to seeing him because it was just like a ghost communication and we both met at the audition. I didn’t even know he was the one until we got to top 24 and my friend told me he’s there too. I was surprised so we got closer since then.
Q – When was the most challenging moment?
R – Every moment was challenging because there was never a time we were given songs that we think we know it. Everything was challenging.
Q – Were your parents encouraging when you told them about your intention to go to Project fame?
R – I didn’t really tell them. I told them on the morning I was coming for auditioning and they both supported me. They know I love music and in my family, they support you in anything you want to do. Nobody pushes you.
Q –Lagos is a hub of entertainment, now that you won, do you see yourself relocating to Lagos?
R – Let’s look into the future for that.
Q – Was there anytime you felt discouraged during the competition?
R – There was not a time, every moment was encouraging.
Q – Who do you look up to in the entertainment industry?
R – I look up to my seniors. To me, music is everything I enjoy. I don’t really have a particular person. I just choose from all genres.
Q – Now as the winner of Project Fame season 9, what do you think fame will change about you?
R – I’m still going to be me, I won’t change. The only thing that will add to it is hard work
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs have collectively created 1.5 million jobs and generated $4.2 billion in revenue — Over 2 million Africans lifted out of poverty.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurs is set to announce the 11th cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
The 2025 announcement comes at a critical time, as Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem faces funding constraints and global economic headwinds. TEF continues to provide much-needed support, empowering African entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses and engines of economic growth.
Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, a world-class business training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and access to global networks and investment opportunities. The selection process is being conducted by Ernst & Young, to ensure independent assessment.
The impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation extends beyond funding. It is changing lives and shaping Africa’s future, as witnessed by beneficiaries of the catalytic TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
Ahead of the upcoming announcement, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of TEF and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, reiterates his unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s entrepreneurs:
“I believe that Africa’s transformation will not be led by aid, but by empowering the next generation of African entrepreneurs—giving them the tools, the funding, the training, and the networks to build sustainable businesses that create jobs and drive economic growth.
Over the past decade, we have nurtured entrepreneurs from inception to success, scaling our impact across all 54 African countries. We have provided capital and also developed a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that allows us to track the progress of our entrepreneurs and measure their contributions to their communities and economies.
No other organisation is implementing entrepreneurship development at this scale across Africa. We have learned, we have refined, and we continue to improve, ensuring that African entrepreneurs—women and men—are at the forefront of solving our continent’s challenges and creating wealth for themselves and their communities. Entrepreneurship is the key to Africa’s prosperity. I wish the 2025 cohort of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs success, as they chase their ambitions, and play their part in Africa’s transformation.”
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment.
Since the launch of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, TEF has lifted over 2 million Africans out of poverty, provided 2.5 million young Africans with access to training on TEFConnect, and disbursed more than $100millon in direct funding to thousands of African entrepreneurs who have gone on to create over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs and generate over $4.2 billion in revenue.
For more details on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact visit our Impact Page, African Success Stories Page, and Annual Report Page.
For Media Inquiries: media@tonyelumelufoundation.org
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur Testimonials from Previous Years:
“I started my agribusiness with nothing but an idea. TEF changed everything. With the funding, training, and mentorship, I have now expanded across three countries and employ 25 people.”
– Fatima Diallo, Senegal, Agritech Entrepreneur
“As a woman in the fintech industry, it was difficult to secure funding. TEF not only provided me with capital but also the confidence and skills to build a business that is now attracting international investors.”
– Mary Okeke, Nigeria, Fintech Founder
“The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme helped me commercialise my clean energy innovation. Today, we provide solar solutions to over 50,000 homes in rural Tanzania.”
– Juma Nyerere, Tanzania, Renewable Energy Entrepreneur
For more details on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact visit our Impact Page, African Success Stories Page, and Annual Report Page.
For Media Inquiries: media@tonyelumelufoundation.org
Business
Federal Government Moves to Slash Sky-High Airfares as Minister Keyamo Exposes Airline Tactics
Federal Government Moves to Slash Sky-High Airfares as Minister Keyamo Exposes Airline Tactics
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has vowed to tackle the exorbitant cost of air tickets for both domestic and international flights, revealing major efforts to cut costs, enhance airport safety, and address airline pricing manipulations.
Speaking at the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Keyamo exposed a series of economic and policy-based factors that have led to the skyrocketing price of flight tickets, making air travel increasingly unaffordable for Nigerians.
Why Are Airfares So Expensive? The Inside Story
Keyamo broke down the root causes of excessive ticket pricing, which include:
Limited access to affordable aircraft leasing, forcing Nigerian airlines to either lease aircraft at exorbitant rates or buy aircraft outright—a cost that ultimately burdens passengers. Foreign airlines deliberately inflating ticket prices for Nigerian travelers due to fears of trapped funds and currency depreciation. Heavy government-imposed airport taxes, which are among the highest in Africa, further pushing up fares.
Foreign Airlines Caught in the Act? Keyamo Exposes Pricing Tricks
In a shocking revelation, Keyamo unveiled how foreign airlines had been exploiting Nigerian travelers by restricting them to only the highest-priced tickets.
“We called international airlines and asked what they used to do. They said if you want to buy international tickets, you will see business class Z, grade J, different grades, but it’s all the same. One can be N2 million cheaper than the other. Those ones, they opened for countries where they could get their money immediately. But they now opened only the high fare for Nigerian passengers,” he disclosed.
He explained that because foreign airlines feared currency depreciation, they set high fares in anticipation of inflation affecting their trapped funds.
“They said because they were taking into account inflationary rates of the money that will be trapped, they didn’t know when they would get it back. So instead of selling a ticket for N2 million or N3 million, they sold it for N7 million. Meanwhile, Ghana had lower ticket prices,” he added.
Government’s Response: No More Exploitation!
The government, according to Keyamo, is actively engaging foreign airlines to adjust their pricing in line with the recently cleared backlog of trapped funds.
“President Bola Tinubu, being very smart on this, cleared that first. But even after clearing the backlog, they were still enjoying the high fares. So we told them, ‘No, you cannot continue to do this. The excuse is gone. Nigerian passengers must now get fair pricing like other countries.’”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is leading discussions with these airlines to force a price adjustment, ensuring that Nigerians no longer face inflated airfares.
Airport Taxes: Another Major Culprit
Keyamo acknowledged that Nigeria’s airport taxes are among the highest in Africa, further worsening ticket prices. However, he emphasized that reducing these taxes is not solely within his power, as it requires collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.
“The Nigerian Airspace Management Authority and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria are reviewing these charges, but I cannot singlehandedly reduce them. It involves the Minister of Finance,” he clarified.
He stressed that airlines pass these high taxes directly to passengers, further inflating ticket costs.
What Lies Ahead? Promises of Cheaper Flights Soon
Keyamo assured Nigerians that with ongoing government interventions—including negotiations with foreign airlines, new aircraft leasing agreements, and possible tax reductions—airfares will soon become more affordable.
“We are addressing these issues. The results will soon be visible with the Cape Town Convention and the Dublin Conference. The deals are coming in, and we will see the results soon,” he promised.
Final Verdict: Relief in Sight or Another Empty Promise?
While the Federal Government’s efforts signal hope for Nigerian travelers, many remain skeptical about whether these promises will translate into real, affordable ticket prices. Will Keyamo’s intervention finally ground the exploitative pricing system, or will passengers continue to pay the price for policy failures? Nigerians are watching closely.
-
Business5 months agoComprehensive Media Audit Shows Flutterwave, MTN Nigeria, and Bolt Outpacing Competitors in Media Engagement
-
Politics6 months agoWhy Ighodalo Slammed ₦20 Billion Suit On Oshiomhole
-
Politics6 months agoCampaign funds: LP Tasks NSA, EFCC to probe Obi, Yesufu, Afenifere
-
Politics6 months agoTogether we can make Ewekoro a better local government’ — Sikiru Adesina Urges Party Leaders, Co-contestants
You must be logged in to post a comment Login