Kengkeng, Heir Apparent winner, takes charge
The winner, who got the star prizes of a tractor, a Peugeot 307 and N5 million investable funds in agriculture and a donation of boreholes and dam by President Goodluck Jonathan, is expected to start his project soon as the heir apparent. Kengkeng, while receiving his prizes, promised to use the funds and the tractor […]
The winner, who got the star prizes of a tractor, a Peugeot 307 and N5 million investable funds in agriculture and a donation of boreholes and dam by President Goodluck Jonathan, is expected to start his project soon as the heir apparent.
Kengkeng, while receiving his prizes, promised to use the funds and the tractor and other prizes in mechanized farming in line with the objective of the programme to produce young Nigerian farmers who will invest in agriculture to achieve the country’s goal on food security and as well serve as role models to other Nigerian youths.
“I’m going to teach my people how to do farming in a mechanized way. I am happy today but I can’t smile because some people do not have food on their tables, they do not have access to health care and other social amenities. Those are people for whom my winning as The Heir Apparent was meant,” he said.
He added that his victory at the nationwide competition was not about stardom but a call to service and strife to make Nigeria better. He described the 37 other contestants of the show as a family of nation builders.
Earlier during the debate that produced him as the eventual winner, Kengkeng had argued the need for character reformation among Nigerians saying that every Nigerian knows what issues to address to take the nation to the next level but the country is still where it is because of the lack of willpower to effect change.
During the debate among the top five contestants on the topic, ‘If I Were the President’, KengKeng came out strong, forceful and convincing; an effort which earned him overwhelming votes from the audience. Guests were asked to vote and KengKeng got 215 votes ahead of Anachi Chigozie, who came second with 46 votes. With marks from the panel of judges, KengKeng got a total of 367 marks while Chigozie got 205 at the Merit House venue of the event.
Hephzibah Jenipher Imodu emerged third with an overall 157 marks and she got the sum of N1.5 million investable in agriculture. The first runner up, Chigozie, got a Peugeot 307 and N3 million investable funds in agriculture too. The other 34 contestants got N250, 000 each as consolation prizes which was given to them immediately after the show while the three winners got their prizes a few days later.
Director General of NOA, Alhaji Idi Farouk, said the reality TV show was designed as a response to the steady deterioration in constructive engagement of Nigerian youths in the country’s crucial development goals.
“The programme is therefore, the initiative of the NOA and its strategic partner, Immersion Marketing Strategies (IMS), aimed at producing a new generation of leaders among Nigerian youths with ideal leadership, entrepreneurial and managerial expertise,” he said.
He described the grand finale as a celebration of the emergence of a new generation of ideal leaders who have undergone rigorous but enriching training. He noted that Heir Apparent had brought a paradigm shift in the concept of reality shows from just entertainment to education, training and civic engagement of youths.
Faruk also added that the prizes were donated by some Nigerians who are eager about bringing changes to the nation describing the occasion as one of keeping promises. “Alhaji Gambo Lawan, a business man from Borno state donated one of the cars for the overall winner, Nanet hotels Ltd donated the second car while A-Z petroleum services ltd, a member of Chicazon group donated the tractor, boreholes and dam by President Jonathan and NOA provided all the cash prizes including the consolation N250, 000 each for other 34 contestants,” he said.
NOA also promised to offer all the 37 contestants automatic employment irrespective of whether they are eliminated or not if they so wish saying it is not enough to take them for a long journey and at the end abandon them to their fate without the agency following them up.
Emir of Shonghai, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, expressed happiness at the direction of the reality show. He said “If our system is not pinned on values, patriotism is difficult. Our youths must be our target. A system of civil responsibility must be inculcated in them. Heir Apparent is the beginning of a process”.
Minister of culture, tourism and national orientation, Alh. Abubakar S. Muhammed thanked all the donors and others who contributed to the show and urged Nigerians to support such reality shows especially those that add value to the nation.
Mr. Sam Kargbo, CEO of the production outfit for the show said their role was to produce the programme and were also involved in the content because it is a pilot programme that was not scripted. They assembled the contestants, and the task master, gave direction as to where the programme should go and took it to that direction.
“By next year, I believe this programme will be the programme to beat on the continent. It’s going to set standards. It’s going to put into question the social responsibility of the corporate community sponsoring other reality programmes that don’t impact very well on all of us. Yet, it is good to say that other reality programmes have their own values. I’m happy they brought me on board to produce The Heir Apparent”.
To second place winner, Anachi Chigozie, a law student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, participating in the contest was a privilege. He advised Nigerian youths to believe in themselves. Third place winner, Hephzibah Jenipher Imodu said that the experience meant a whole lot to her. Her words: “The places I’ve been to, the people I’ve met and the knowledge I’ve gained during the contest is worth more than millions. I thank God for using NOA and the Director General, he was quite a father and I’m proud of that”.