Loveday wins N1.5m at Comedy Central’s contest

Gift Loveday, 25, has emerged winner of the Comedy Central’s Grab The Mic (CCGTM) competition N1.5million grand prize.  At the event organised in partnership with Maltina, Loveday a wildcard contestant, beat seven others – Nyerhorwo Maxwell and Emmanuel Oliver (Jos), Daniel Jonah and Oveze Godwin Jagbojo (Lagos,) Coxson Christian and Justice Kalada (Port Harcourt) including […]

Gift Loveday, 25, has emerged winner of the Comedy Central’s Grab The Mic (CCGTM) competition N1.5million grand prize. 

At the event organised in partnership with Maltina, Loveday a wildcard contestant, beat seven others – Nyerhorwo Maxwell and Emmanuel Oliver (Jos), Daniel Jonah and Oveze Godwin Jagbojo (Lagos,) Coxson Christian and Justice Kalada (Port Harcourt) including another Maltina Wild Card contestant, Desmond Eghaghe (Port Harcourt).

In an emotion-laden voice, Loveday said, “The journey has been long. Weeks of practice and focus but in the end, I thank the Almighty God for helping me express my talent through CCGTM and more importantly, for making my light shine among thousands.”

It was an eight-week contest which provided Nigeria’s young and talented comedians the platform to grow and refine their skills and confidence on stage and with diverse audiences. 

Participants were rated by a panel of judges chaired by Ali Baba, Funke Akindele and comedian Kunle Idowu, popularly known as Frank Donga.

Daniel Jonah receiving his prize 

Similarly, one of the contestants, Daniel Jonah, also won the Maltina Bootcamp challenge at the event. He went home with a N200,000 cash prize plus one year supply of Maltina drink.

Speaking on the event, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Alex Okosi, said: “This has been an important investment together with Maltina in creating a strong platform for identifying and showcasing the next great generation of comedic talent in Nigeria. ‘Grab The Mic’ successfully delivered on our goal of providing inspiration and mentorship to the emerging entertainers who participated in the campaign as they collaborated on the same platforms with established stars.”

Also, the Portfolio Manager, Non Alcoholic Drinks for Nigerian Breweries Plc, Olayinka Bakare, said, “It has been a very exciting journey for Maltina. We recognize that life happens and we can sometimes forget to just laugh.”

From left: Dillon Khan, Kunle Idowu (a.k.a. Frank Donga), Funke Akindele, Gift Loveday (winner), Ali Baba and Bada Akintunde at the Comedy Central’s Grab The Mic grand finale held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. PHOTOS BY: Opeyemi Kehinde.