GoNigeria offers N1m for rap challenge ahead of 2023 elections
By Seth Akande
GoNigeria a nonprofit and non-party movement dedicated to building a new voice for the young people in Nigeria has launched its GoNigeria Rap Challenge in English Language, a contest for young Nigerians.
With the objective of becoming an important voice for driving Nigerian youths to actively participate in the nation’s electoral processes and redefining the political trajectory of Nigeria, in 2023, the contest was set up for young Nigerians between the ages of 18 to 34.
The organizer said it hopes to act as an incentivizing platform that will boost political participation and harness energy with the anger in minds of some Nigerian youths in a positive direction by showcasing their creative talent and skills with the ongoing GoNigeria advocacy campaign.
GoNigeria believes that the vibing components of Rap which combine rhyme, mime in its flow and delivery can be impactful, particularly amongst the younger voters which they can use to deliver important messages in the societies.
The English Language Rap Challenge would be anchored by M. I Abaga, renowned Entertainer, Activist and GoAmbassador. This online rap contest which started on Tuesday, 26 April, 2022 will run till Tuesday, 17 May, 2022. Only Nigerian youths between the ages of 18 to 34 years and who have PVCs are eligible to participate with incentives ranging from N1,000,000 for the 1st prize winner. Other prizes include N600, 000 and N400,000 for the first and second runners-up respectively.
“Participants are required to send in a 60 seconds rap video, in which they must show their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) or registration slip and play with the word PVC or Permanent Voters Card in their rap production. The video also must adequately communicate the important need for Nigerian youths to GoRegister and get their PVCs before 30 June, 2022.
“The judges will consider ‘content originality,’ ‘flow’ [rhythm, rhyme], and ‘delivery’ [cadence, tone], and potential impact. Contestants must post the video on all their social media platforms with the hashtag #GoNigeriaRapChallenge and tag @AnapFoundation.
“The selection of winners will be entirely at the discretion of the GoNigeria Judges, who will apply terms and conditions that have been designed to ensure fair play and healthy competition.
“While the thrust of the rap challenge is aimed at engaging Nigerian youths with a strong inclination towards rap to showcase their talents, the real objective is aimed at encouraging Nigerian youths, within the eligibility demographics of the challenge, i. e. those aged between 18 and 34 years, to go and register with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and collect their PVCs before the expiration of the Commission’s last Continuous Voter’s Registration [CVR] deadline of 30 June, 2022 in preparation for the 2023 elections. This is in line with the ongoing GoNigeria advocacy campaign aimed at encouraging eligible young Nigerians in the country and diaspora to actively participate in the nation’s electoral processes leading up to the 2023 elections, as their direct involvement should be pivotal to reshaping the country’s political destiny.
“The overall aim is to encourage Nigerian youths to register and vote en-masse in the 2023 General Elections.”
