IBD Foundation Organises 5th Ileya Talent Hunt, Signs Two Hip Hop Artists To Foundation
By: Saheed Adeola
A non-governmental organisation, IBD Foundation hosted its 5th Ileya talent hunt and mentoring program for youths in Yewa area of Ogun state to encourage and support their development.
The event, which targeted young and talented Indigenes of Yewa to showcase their talent to the world was hosted yesterday at the hometown of Alhaji Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun, Ebute Igbo-oro in Yewa north local government area of Ogun State.
Two young Hip Hop artists, Mayowa James Omolegbe (Melly Boy) and Akinbode Quayum Adedeji (AK-Q) were also signed into the Foundation as the official artists of the foundation, joining Adeleye Olamilekan Kamorudeen (Movement) who won the 4th edition of the Yewa Got Talent Hunt last year.
Aside the two new signees who won in hip hop categories, the foundation also gifted both primary and secondary schools students who participated in quiz competition, education materials which included school bags.
Speaking with Journalists on the successes recorded at the program, the foundation founder, Mrs Omolara Dende Egungbohun said winners emerged in stand-up-comedy, music, dance, quiz competition for school students amongst others.
Omolara, wife of a seasoned businessman and hospitality guru, Alhaji Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun revealed that this year edition tagged “Ileya Exclusive Party” featured different areas of entertainment where talents between ages 10 and 30 were discovered and will be mentored by big names in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
The founder, said the annual programme advances the foundation’s vision and mission to discover and develop Nigerian talents with the ultimate aim of developing the country.
According to her, “It is important to develop the natural talent of youths in order to maximize opportunities for a purposeful life.
“Every youth has something in them that can be activated and be useful in life. Our objective is to discover and nurture talents of young people, which helps them contribute to the growth and development of the society at large.”
She said the legacy project has continued to progress as an annual event, while assuring that the next edition would attract greater numbers of entertainment legends and participants.
Mrs Dende emphasized on needs to change next year Ileya Party to pure education segments adding that Yewa North still lack some standards of education, therefore the foundation will be focusing on educational development of the students within the local government next year.
The foundation founder said it was regrettably that pupils in class of primary 5 can hardly spell Education or motor correctly, calling on the state Commissioner of education to take a drastic measure to ensure a standard of education in the state.
She advised the winners to utilise the opportunity to their own benefits, while admonishing youths to imbibe the great lessons of Ileya which include sacrifice, faith, resurrection and not giving up among others.
The foundation manager, Mr Dotun, who also spoke on the achievements that the program recorded, said the event was preceded by an open selection process where the selected talents would be mentored.
He explained that the idea was to positively engage the youth to move away from social vices and support them, since the age category is full of energy.
He said the next edition of the talent hunt program will come up on Ileya day in 2024 in yewa north local government of Ogun State, the hometown of Alhaji Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun.
He advised that the youth should never give up on Nigeria, but continue to strive to improve themselves, saying Nigeria will get better when we work to better ourselves and stay positive
The event was compered by the Oloja of Oja-Odan, Oba Oyebanji Adetunji, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ogun state, Comrade Wale Olarenwaju, the likes of popularly skit maker, Baba Alariya, Lizzy Jay Omo Ibadan, Ewa Ede, hypeman Whiskaba, emperor dancers, amongst others.
