Nigerian singer, Victory Gbakara has emerged winner of the season eight edition of the Nigerian Idol show which started off on Sunday, April 23, 2023.
Gbakara closed off the season with a performance of Blessed by Wizkid, and his emergence as the winner was announced on the show on Sunday.
He will receive a grand prize of N100 million, which includes N35 million in cash. Additionally, Gbakara’s victory comes with a music record deal and a video shoot opportunity.
The show’s finale took place on Sunday night, featuring captivating group performances by all the contestants, alongside the judges. Leading the chorus of the performance were D’banj, Simi, and Obi Asika, who performed “Hall of Fame,” a song by the Star of Copenhagen, Switzerland released in 2014.
Hosted by IK Osakioduwa, the 2023 edition premiered in April and ran for ten weeks, from April 23 to July 16, with live shows airing during this period.
The show made its debut with the first season in 2010, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the country. The season’s theme was “Live Your Dream,” and auditions were open to all Nigerians aged between 18 and 28. The inaugural season aired in October 2010 and was broadcast on 15 different channels throughout Africa.