Onah Kelechi wins grand prize in “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” Recital
Alongside the grand prize winner, two other talented contestants emerged as finalists on Nigeria’s Democracy Day anniversary, June 12.
In a celebration of patriotism and poetic expression, the recently concluded “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” Out Loud! recital, hosted by Meiza Nigeria, crowned Miss Onah Kelechi as the grand prize winner.
The competition, which kicked off on 2 June 2024, invited participants to recite the reintroduced national anthem with passion and flair.
When President Bola Tinubu signed a law that takes every Nigerian back to the pre-independence tune, the question waiting to be answered was how soon it could be learnt. Evidence has shown how quickly singing the anthem by heart was possible for the participants.
A Twist of Fate
Miss Onah, known by her Instagram handle (@mummyzo1), visited Meiza’s Lagos office yesterday to claim her well-deserved reward. Luck played a role in her victory, as the initial recital leader, @mummyzaram (MZ), faced an unexpected suspension from Instagram due to an undisclosed infraction.
Although MZ’s profile was restored after a week, she missed out on the finalist announcement. Nevertheless, the organisers will ensure that she will be compensated for her efforts.
The Top Three Finalists
Alongside Onah Kelechi, two other talented contestants emerged as finalists on Nigeria’s Democracy Day anniversary, June 12. Here’s how they fared:
Onah Kelechi (@mummyzo1): With an impressive 2,486 engagements on Instagram, Kelechi secured the top spot covering her to claim the ₦50,000 grand prize.
Omerebere Mary Mgbecheta (@omereberemary.mgbecheta): In the second place, Mary earned 1,335 engagements, winning ₦30,000.
Mum Nasa (@mum_nasa): Nasa gained 1,302 engagements, securing the third position and receiving ₦20,000.
Reward Day
On Wednesday, 19 June, all three finalists found their bank accounts enriched with their respective cash prizes.
Right before noon, the grand prize winner, Onah Kelechi, visited Meiza Nigeria’s office to meet with company management and officially claim her reward.
In a heartfelt video posted on her Instagram profile afterwards, she expressed gratitude to Meiza for providing a platform where participants could showcase their patriotism through blindfolded recitations of the national anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.
The “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” Out Loud! recital not only celebrated poetic talent but also reinforced the spirit of unity and love for the nation. Congratulations to Miss Onah Kelechi and all the finalists!
ALSO READ: How Bola Tinubu marked 25 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
