By Michael Chukwuebuka, Reporting
DELTA-BORN Sis Ebunoluwa Nkemdirim Binis has emerged winner of the maiden edition of the 2022 Talent Hunt organized by the Youths and Young Adults (YAYA) of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Oyo Province 18, Region 21.
The programme’s flier
Sis Ebun, as she’s fondly called, is a worker and chorister at RCCG Glorious People’s Sanctuary (GPS), Mokola, Ibadan, pastored by Pastor & Pastor (Mrs) Ebenezer Adurokiya.
The peculiar youths
Stonix News reports that the talent hunt, which was incorporated into the 2022 Provincial Youth Convention, was first of its kind in Oyo Province 18, ably led by the Pastor-in-Charge of the province,, Pastor Bamidele Adeniji.
The convention started on Monday, October 10 and ended with a Thanksgiving Service at the provincial headquarters, 6, Akintoba Street, Agbowo, Ibadan, on Sunday October 16.
The marathon walk
Stonix News, which was on ground, further reports that the talent hunt audition held at the Peculiar Peoples church auditorium, within the first three days of the convention week, with five young talented lead vocalists slugging it out as the contestants.
Tagged: “The Living Sacrifice,” the convention also witnessed a potpourri of events such as drama, sports evangelism, (marathon walk from Sango to Agbowo), teachings and medicals, football fiesta and indoor games, among others with youths from each of the zones actively in participation.
Winners of the football competition
In a chat with our reporter, the Oyo 18 Provincial Youth Music Director and Talent Hunt initiator, Bro John Andrew, underscored the major reason for initiating the talent hunt and how it would help talented youths across the province.
The youths
“One of the initiatives behind the talent hunt is that we noticed we have a lot of young music ministers that are doing well (in their various parishes).
“Normally, they don’t have the platform; there’s no platform given to them to thrive.
Talent hunt contestants
“In fact, a lot of people do not even know what they have inside of them..”, he enthused.
He commended the efforts and expertise of the panelists in making sure there was a fair play in the assessment that eventually threw up the winner.
Table tennis competition
“We had amazing judges; people who have experience in music,” Andrew noted.
Stonix News affirms that the panelists were: Pastor Blessing Oroke, Pastor Sam Apala, Sister Dupe, Bro Ifeoluwa Ajayi and the initiator himself, Mr John Andrew.
Giving details on how the selection was made, Andrew said after due voting by the audience and judges during the final stage – Day 3 of the audition, the winner, Miss Ebunoluwa Binis scored 139.5 points, while the runner-up, Miss Oreoluwa Aina, polled 139 points.
The youth choir
“Actually, it was a close-call between the winner and the second position.
“Ebunoluwa scored 139.5 while Oreoluwa scored 139 points. But I can tell you they did well. They did wonderfully well,” he posited.
When asked if there would be another talent hunt audition next year, the initiator affirmed and also added that next year’s audition would be bigger and better.
“There would be another talent hunt audition next year, and the thing is that those who won this first edition are eligible to contest again for the second edition, next year,” he reiterated.
Miss Ebunoluwa, a native of Aniocha in Delta State, in a chat with our reporter, expressed her excitement after the news about her victory filtered into the air, explaining how difficult it was for her as a contestant.
The young minstrel at RCCG, Glorious People’s Sanctuary (GPS), Mokola, under Blossom Area and Calvary Top Zone, has Bro Michael Chukwuebuka as her keyboardist at the competition with full prayerful support of other members of the GPS choir behind the scene.
The sister with a sonorous vocals, while relating his experience to Stonix News, in her usual shyly smiles, said “When I heard the news that I had won, I was surprised because I wasn’t sure I was actually the best contestant at the audition.
“Back-to-back, it was very very hot and discouraging. I was about giving up (after the Day-2), but I was like, ‘no, I can do it. And with the help of my people (team), their support and the love gave me more vibes.
“They kept telling me, you can do it. And to God be the glory, we did it.”
During the grand finale and Thanksgiving Service of the youth convention on Sunday, the winner of the talent hunt, Sis Ebunoluwa, was also given the opportunity to minister in songs for 10 minutes to the admiration of all.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Youth Coordinator, Pastor Oluwabiyi Sunday Ajayi, who expressed joy at the success of the youth convention, described the talent hunt initiative as an idea which began from a thought on how youths could be encouraged.
Waxing spiritual and philosophical, he said “first thing first, our people need to know who they are and what they can do better ….
“So, we wooed and motivated them with opportunity like sports and talent hunt and through these, we invested on a platform (auditions and competition) through which we can redefine their talents to the taste and glory of God,” he affirmed.
He said the essence of presenting the winners of the talent hunt and football tournament among youths in each of the zones at the Sunday Thanksgiving Service to mark the grand finale of the convention was to pass a message across to all stakeholders that youths in the province can do more than the world can offer.
“We have more than the world can offer, our youths are serious and responsible, and they can get all the best from our youth if they give them the little support they need,” he admonished.
According to him, the leadership of the youth Forum will “keep a record of reference in order to update their relevance at every relevant events, until they get to the peak beyond their imaginations.”
Highlights of the grand finale of the week-long youth convention was the announcement of winners of the various prizeless competitive events and prayer for the youths.
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