By Laja Thomas

An atmosphere of excitement and fun-fair was created at the audition venue for the sixth season of the MTN Project Fame West Africa, in Benin, weekend, as over 20,000 youths converged on the Constantial Hotel, in Benin City, Edo State.

A female Sociology student from the University of Benin, Augusta Ukwah said “the MTN Project Fame holds a wider appeal to youths here, having seen hitherto little known young Nigerians like Iyanya, Chidimma and Praize take advantage of the platform, through the technical support of the music reality show’s faculty members and judges to achieve their dreams of becoming music stars.”

Also, members of the Red Cross Society, Ugbowo Detachment of the University Of Benin, seized the moment at the audition venue with an unusual buzz of drumming and singing to the delight of participants. Some of them said they chose to identify with a project that is empowering Nigerian youths with big dreams of stardom, in a distinct way that gives hope to young people across the country and the sub-region.

Music being the passion of Nigerian youths, the massive turn-out, at the centre, attests to the projection by authorities in the music industry that the industry is set for a boom. Meanwhile, the same effect was recorded at the Abuja venue of audition where thousands of youth also gather to get an opportunity to showcase their music talents.

The MTN Project Fame West Africa is Africa’s most enduring musical reality TV show, having produced about 10 musicians who have become household names in different West African countries.