Yemisi Izuora
The highly anticipated third season of the FUZE Talent Show, themed ‘Light it Up,’ concluded Saturday, 21 December 2024, with a dazzling finale that showcased Nigeria’s brightest young talents. Organised by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, the event lived up to its promise of being bigger and better, with a record-breaking prize pool of N50 million distributed among the winners.
The grand finale, held at Livespot Entertarium, Lekki, Lagos, featured extraordinary performances across various artistic fields, including music, dance, fashion, and technology. The event drew an enthusiastic live audience and millions of viewers worldwide through live-streaming platforms.
Esther Okonta emerged as the overall winner in the Fashion category; Grace James in the Tech category; Caleb Edet Tremor in the Music category and Benedict Emmanuel in the Dance category. They have each clinched the top prize of ₦7.5 million for their respective categories. These talented individuals secured substantial financial rewards and gained invaluable industry exposure and mentorship opportunities.
Olumide Oyetan, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, expressed his delight at the event’s success. “FUZE 3.0 has exceeded our expectations in every way. The talent displayed by our contestants are extraordinary, reinforcing our belief in the immense potential of Nigerian youths. This platform has again proven its worth in nurturing and showcasing our nation’s creative prowess.”
The talent show competition began with over 6,000 submissions and witnessed unprecedented participation levels with four (4) emerging finalists across Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Benin. The rigorous selection process, conducted through the Stanbic IBTC Events App and website, ensured that 28 exceptional talents made it to the bootcamp and only the most exceptional talents made it to the finale.
This year’s FUZE Festival, which marked the culmination of the talent hunt, was a celebration of creativity and innovation. Industry leaders, celebrities, and dignitaries graced the event, further elevating its status as a premier platform for emerging talents. FUZE Festival 3.0 witnessed over 10,000 participants surpassing the previous year’s 8,000 participants.
Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting young talents. Plans are already underway for the next edition of the FUZE Talent Show. The company encourages aspiring contestants to stay tuned for announcements regarding FUZE 4.0 in 2025.