Africa’s most populous nation experiences a continuous entertainment revolution, accompanied by a decorative air of talented minds from across every part of Nigeria.

We are talking about De9jaspirit Talent Hunt, an outstanding event in which none else is compared, rich in content and gratified in offering the most outstanding source of overwhelming ecstasy. Eyes have seen and ears have heard, how De9jaspirit Talent Hunt is hitting the airwaves of Nigeria, it does not only stop at entertaining the public as other talent hunts have been doing.

DTH is a different stock, novel in its own kind. It welcomes all kinds of talents, from contortion, to singing, magic, breakdancing, poetry, comedy and so much more. Watching contestants perform a heterogeneous multiplicity of talents has always been breathtaking. I am not left behind, you should not be left behind, and in fact, no one should be left behind.

De9jaspirit Talent Hunt held its first edition of the show in September, 2021. Even though the show was basically in its natal stage, it attracted much awareness as thousands turned up daily for the show at Cultural Center, Calabar and thousands more streamed from all corners of Nigeria and beyond.

The first edition ran for 7 days and was hosted by Stephanie Coker, the popular Nigerian on-air personality for EbonyLife TV and MTV Base Africa. Epitomes of the entertainment industry such as Ini Edo, the popularly known Nigerian actress known from across the lengths and breadth of Nigeria; Ikechukwu Ogbonna known professionally as IK Ogbonna, a Nigerian film and television actor, director, and TV personality and Sidney Esiri, popularly known as Dr. Sid, a musician of no mean repute all served as judges in the show.

The first edition, which hosted 50 contestants, saw the emergence of Miss Constance Olatunde, a singer and first prize winner, who went home with 10 Million Naira cash prize. Miss Constance Olatunde, from Ekiti State, is a singer whose passion towards her talent cannot ever be quenched. On stage, she sang from the deepest parts of her soul and watching her perform, was a pleasurable experience that cannot easily be forgotten.

Prior to her emergence, she had been singing for 9 years and the consistency in her art was shown in the way she dedicated all her energy in her songs. Today, Miss Constance Olatunde has her fresh singles “Believe” which she performed in the Season 2 finale of De9jaspirit Talent Hunt.

The season 1 of the show also ended with The Chrysolite Crew as first runners-up, an interesting choreography group who went home with a 3 Million Naira cash prize, and Emmanuel Ikebudu, A.K.A Slim Saint, a comedian of unique stock who was awarded a 2 Million Naira cash prize.

As the show ended, we were all immersed in the positive liveliness that radiated from it. There was no better or more interesting experience than having to watch all kinds of talents, including the ones that had never been envisioned, revealing themselves on stage one after the other. It was beautiful, it was unique, and superbly outstanding.

The conclusion of the Season 1 edition of De9jaspirit Talent Hunt left us with high hopes and anxious expectations of the Season 2 edition of the show. However, DTH did not just offer an equation of the previous edition. It came out all brand new, it delivered above expectations.

The second edition (Season 2) of the show was a movement from apex to apex. It was hosted by the popularly known Adams Ibrahim Adebola known also as V.J Adams, an entertainment luminary known expressly as a musician, TV presenter, video jockey, and entrepreneur. As if this was not enough, DTH featured Miss Rose Omokhoa Afije known by the name Liquorose as one of the judges alongside Ini Edo, Dr. Sid, and IK Ogbonna. Liquorose emerged first runner-up in Big Brother Naija Season 6 (Shine Ya Eye) 2021. She is a video vixen who has featured in music videos with well-known musicians like PSquare, Dbanj, Davido, Wizkid, 2face, and Yemi Alade.

To crown it all about the Season 2 edition, De9jaspirit Talent Hunt offered us a show running for three months straight as against the 7 days it offered in Season 1.

This was the beginning of a 3 months entertainment that turned out to be fun-filled, thrilling, emotional, and exhilarating. In addition, the second edition did not just offer a 7 Million Naira cash prize to the first prize winner, but gave an additional bonus of a +5 days trip to Dubai and Kenya. First runner-up and second runner-up went home with cash prizes of 3 Million Naira, and 2 Million Naira cash prize respectively.

The show was also consistent in hosting youths from across all kinds of talents who converged at Calabar from all nooks and crannies of Nigeria. Of course, the show’s prized winners were not chosen unsystematically. Progress through its different stages was determined by votes which were taken not only from live attendees but also from online streamers.

The season 2 received a wider range of attention and participation from viewers nationwide and beyond. This active participation from viewers through streams and votes saw the emergence of Esther Ugochi Kalu known by her stage name “Ugee Royalty” as first prize winner. The spirited singer with a powerful voice deserved it. She is a composition of many different singers existing in one body. It is undoubtable that she is meant for nothing else but greatness.

Ugee Royalty is an upcoming gospel artist who simply stands above the upcoming tag. The 22 year old born singer from Abia State is superb on stage. She radiates powerful and positive vibes, so honeyed that it was almost impossible for one to remain on one’s seat while she is on stage.

Her songs were usually followed by nodding of heads, tapping of feets, and one never know when one rises to dance, applause, and render shouts of excitement. Ugee Royalty, as the first prize winner got a cash prize of 7 Million Naira which she intends to utilize in setting up her own studio so she can serve as a means to supporting upcoming gospel artistes like herself. She was so excited about the fact that, in addition to the cash prize, she is visiting Dubai and Kenya. Nonetheless, she deserves it all.

The first runner-up for DTH Season 2 is Ibukunoluwa Oluwaseun known by her stage name “Ibquake”, a writer, teacher, and motivational speaker. Ibquake is a powerful spoken word artiste who is very creative in employing sensible words to depict real life situations.

She bagged a cash prize of 3 Million Naira and the second runner-up, Bassey Stephen Ernest known by his stage name “Masterseb Comedian” bagged a cash prize of 2 Million Naira. Masterseb is unique, he does not just use comedy to evoke laughter, comedy is for him is a strong tool which he employs in passing pertinent messages about issues in society, such as rape and domestic violence. Truly, De9jaspirit Talent Hunt has been able to bring beautiful talents to limelight.

When asked to describe De9jaspirit Talent Hunt, I simply rate it as the most interesting Talent Hunt that has ever existed in Africa. This rating is not given haphazardly, it is as a result of the fact that DTH offers what no existing talent hunt offers. By virtue of being a live observer of the show, I was, every now and then, startled, and so impressed by the experiences I got from the show. Nothing else can be said apart from a big “thank you” to De9jaspirit Talent Hunt for all the wonderful experiences gained.

So far, DTH has been wonderful. From when it began its maiden edition in 2021, we were not in doubt that this novel idea and innovation is sure going somewhere, from apex to apex. DTH has not disappointed and season after season, wonderful experiences are doubled with rich addition of beauty and grandeur. As we speak, DTH is about to hit the waves again with its Season 3 edition of the show. This edition will award a 10 Million Naira cash prize, a brand new car, a +5 days trip to Kenya and Maldives.

It can easily be noted that DTH has progressed from giving its first prize winners a cash prize of 7 Million Naira to a 10 Million Naira cash prize as well as a brand new car. This is progress par excellence. The first runner-up and second runner-up will be awarded cash prizes of 3 Million Naira and 2 Million Naira respectively, plus a 300 Thousand Naira cash prize for best weekly performances.

I would personally encourage anyone to participate in this show one way or the other, whether as a talented youth or as a viewer. It cannot be acknowledged anywhere that DTH has ever disappointed. It is not plausible that it will ever disappoint. As a live or streaming audience, your entertainment and happiness is hundred percent assured and as a contestant, you may find yourself a first prize winner. Who knows? With DTH, you can be brought to limelight by showing your talent to the world and thus, earning millions worth of cash prizes.

The aphorism that there is no hiding place for the golden fish was practically manifested last week when the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Mamman Nami deservedly bagged double awards from reputable organisations. The nation’s number one tax collector at separate events was named winner of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Merit Award and the winner of the BusinessDay Excellence in Public Service Award.

Since his assumption of office as the Executive Chairman of the FIRS in 2019, Mr Muhammad Nami has been going about his duty with uncommon zest, focus and vigour. Within the relatively little years of his stewardship as the helmsman of the nation’s biggest tax agency, he has raised the bar of leadership at FIRS by posting many remarkable strides in office.

The FIRS Executive Chairman’s latest meritorious garland was bestowed on him at the 2023 annual awards of ICAN which took place at the Monarch Event Centre, Lagos, on Saturday 6 May, 2023. Muhammad Nami who was honoured in the non-members category at the event, was described by the President of ICAN, Mr Tijani Musa Isa, as a self-effacing and humble achiever who has steered the FIRS to excel in the national and international tax circle despite global economic downturns.

While eulogising the nation’s number one tax chief for achieving several milestones in revenue collection, the ICAN President said the Merit Award is in recognition of Muhammad Nami’s positive impact in the society stressing that he has made significant contribution to the institute and to Nigeria. “The governing board deemed it fit to acknowledge the role you (Nami) have played and your outstanding achievements,” Isa emphasised.

Muhammad Nami’s virtues as a leader imbued with exemplary and rare professional moral fibre were further captured in the citation read at the ICAN event, in which he was aptly described as “a go-getter and an ingenious leader.”

The impactful reforms which he is implementing at FIRS did not escape the attention of the Institute as they were acknowledged as eloquent attestations to his dexterity, visionary leadership and patriotism. The citation took cognitive note of the fact that under his visionary leadership, the FIRS in 2022 achieved an unprecedented revenue collection of N10.1 trillion, the highest tax collection ever made in the annals of the country.

At a similar event two days earlier in the same week, the FIRS boss was named the winner of the BusinessDay Excellence in Public Service Award 2022. The event took place on Thursday 4 May, 2023 at the BusinessDay States Competitiveness and Good Governance Awards.

BusinessDay Newspaper explained that it named him the winner of the award for his “visionary and leadership qualities [that] have brought tremendous change to the FIRS.”

It underscored Muhammad Nami’s landmark achievements by transforming the tax administration and compliance landscape in Nigeria. Prominent on the checklist of his strides in the transformative aspect is the introduction of the revolutionary TaxPro Max which is FIRS’ home-grown digital platform for tax administration. The hugely successful digital platform allows taxpayers to register, file returns and pay their taxes easily from any location other than their respective tax offices. TaxPro Max has proved an effective antidote of the delays and frustrations usually associated with the labyrinthine wholly manual process of the past that often lent itself to leakages, delays and frustrations.

BusinessDay commended Muhammad Nami for repositioning the operations and staff of the FIRS, as well as introducing technological tools to institute more transparency, accountability, and effectiveness, which in turn has translated into increased capacity to deliver on the mandate with outstanding results.

The Executive Chairman’s response after receiving the ICAN Merit Award captured his professional trajectory from a humble beginning through the rungs to the higher rungs of professional excellence. He summed his professional odyssey this way: ”Since I left the university, over 32 years ago, I have had the privilege and luck to be directly and indirectly associated with ICAN members: from the PKF, to Manam Professional Services, and now I am working directly with well over 3,000 members of this Institute as the Executive Chairman of the FIRS.”

He went on to dedicate the award to his alma maters (from primary to tertiary levels), his former colleagues at the Presidential Committee on Audit of Stolen Recovered Stolen Assets, members of the Tax Advisory Committee of the FIRS, all taxpayers, FIRS board members, management and staff of the FIRS plus his family members.

A rundown of Muhammad Nami’s rich profile reveals a man who is properly trained and horned in the fields of tax, accounting and management. He is a thoroughbred professional with highly rated qualifications and practicing licenses from relevant professional bodies.

An accountant, management professional, tax administrator and public officer, Muhammad Nami has more than three decades of practical working experience in auditing, tax management and advisory as well as management services to clients in the banking, manufacturing services and public sectors in addition to non- profit organisations.

He is an expert in rendering advisory support services to investors in respect of new businesses. He has also continuously rendered outsourced services to clients in both trading, service and manufacturing sectors of the nation’s economy.

A fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, the FIRS boss is also an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) as well as a graduate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Like the great oak that grew from little acorns, Muhammad Nami started his career with PKF in 1993 and rose to the position of a senior consultant in charge of tax management and advisory services. From October, 2018 to December, 2019, he also served as the Managing Consultant of Manam Professional Services, a Chartered Tax Practitioners and Advisers firm that had offices in Kaduna, Abuja and Minna.

He is the current President of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA). He is the Chairman of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), a statutory position he holds as the Executive Chairman of the FIRS. He is the immediate past Chairman of the African Tax Administrators Forum (ATAF). These roles have invariably conferred on him the need to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria, Africa and the commonwealth nations.

As a proactive and innovative leader, he has since proved bookmakers right that he is more than equal to the task. The reforms he is implementing at FIRS attest to his dexterity, visionary leadership and patriotism. Under his visionary leadership, the FIRS in 2022 achieved an unprecedented revenue collection of N10.1 trillion, which is the highest tax collection ever made in the history of the country.

Recently, he earned accolades for audacious deployment of technology as well as the introduction of unprecedented reforms in Nigeria’s tax administration including data mining and strategic intelligence gathering for improved revenue generation.

His sterling leadership and impressive scorecard have earned him and the FIRS several other awards. For instance, in October 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred on him the Excellence in Public Service Award for Fiscal reforms at the FIRS while he also received the Leadership Newspaper Public Servant of the Year Award for 2022.

Muhammad Nami’s exemplary leadership style has greatly helped to galvanise and motivate the management and entire workforce of the FIRS to be disciplined and amenable to basic etiquette of the Service.

The fact that he is a man driven by ideas and positive results is attested to by the regular on-the-job trainings and brainstorming sessions he organises at the FIRS. He is a modern era leader that is never weary of updating and introducing result-yielding innovative ideas and techniques.

Among other contributory factors to the astounding success of Muhammad Nami at the FIRS are his humble and honest attributes. Beneath the veneer of his gentle mien is the steely quality of a leader who does not compromise integrity and value in the discharge of duty. Certainly, the FIRS under the clear-headed, confident and chivalrous leadership of Muhammad Nami is primed for more plumage of honours and awards in future.

By Nkem Precious Esq

Nkem Precious is an Abuja based lawyer

President Muhammadu Buhari has made a formal request to the Senate, seeking their approval for an $800 million loan from the World Bank.

The purpose of the loan is to provide support and alleviate the potential consequences of removing fuel subsidies in Nigeria. This request follows the government’s earlier announcement of an $800 million grant from the World Bank, intended to assist 50 million vulnerable Nigerians or 10 million households as part of their subsidy palliative measures.

However, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a non-governmental organization, expressed concerns about the government’s approach to the country’s mounting debt crisis. CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa-Rafsanjani, questioned the loan request, particularly the decision to borrow funds for post-subsidy removal palliatives, describing it as unusual. He emphasized that if the fuel subsidy removal process has been suspended, as announced by the Minister of Finance, then the borrowed money should be returned.

Rafsanjani highlighted the worries among Nigerians regarding another $800 million loan from the World Bank, considering Nigeria’s revenue collection of N10 trillion in 2022 and a debt of approximately N77 trillion. This raises concerns about the country’s financial stability and the impact of further borrowing.

In related news, the National Economic Council (NEC) recently decided to postpone the planned removal of petroleum product subsidies until the end of President Buhari’s administration. The NEC, comprising state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other government officials, determined that the current circumstances were not favorable for subsidy removal. The finance minister emphasized the need for continued discussions and preparatory work in collaboration with states and representatives of the incoming administration.