In a bid to engage young people, and minimise restiveness amongst them, the State Security Service (SSS) on Saturday organized a music talent hunt for the youth in the Spirit and Life Church, Abuja. 

Premium Times learnt that certain categories of top officials of the SSS were asked to identify areas where they could help engage youth in Nigeria positively. They official came up with a strategy to focus on faith and community-based organizations.

Two of the agency’s  directors, Raymond Nkemdirim, Director of Operations and Felix Ikumapayi, Director of Admin led the SSS team to the contest in Abuja.

The men of the security service were guests at the church’s premises at Katampe hills Abuja where 10 talented upcoming artiste contested keenly for the star prize of half a million naira.

In an interview with journalists, the General Overseer of the church, Ms. Eunice Gordon-Osagiede, said the SSS was in partnership with her church to seek active engagement with youth.

She said that “it was expedient for the nation’s security agencies to explore all avenues to seek a permanent solution to the present security challenges in the country.

She revealed that the SSS’ role in the partnership is to “support the vision of the church engaging the youths profitably”.

“The purpose of this programme is to encourage and support our young people especially in this age and time when you see young people and teenagers really challenged to harness and channel whatever passion that God has put in their lives so that through this they can maximize their God-given potentials”.

“Our desire is that young people should take advantage of whatever God has put in them and focus on their future and take responsibility for their future. I decided to zero on the area of music and singing” Ms. Gordon-Osagiede said.

She said the engagement of youth in the church is a way of diverting the attention of young people from destruction. “Surely, anything at all we can do to get our youths to be quiet and focus for their great tomorrow,” she said.

The events attracted gospel artists like Jeremiah Gyang, Frank Edward and Kingsley Ike. They thrilled the large audience with their popular songs.

Jeremiah Gyanga acted as one of the judges at the event. He announced Adenike Oliha, a 24-year-old female, the winner of the contest.

She won N500, 000 naira for her effort. Coming in second place was Adesemo Ehiagwina, who won N250, 000. Goodnews Donye won the third place prize of N100, 000.00.

The church announced it would give the winners recording contracts as well.