The choir of the Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha, and Omega Modern Parish came first in the maiden edition of the Merciful God Concert and Talent Hunt organised for churches in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The concert was sponsored by Hon Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul. He represents the Ajeromi Federal Constituency in the Lower House of the National Assembly.
Habitation Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God came second in the contest while the Holy Mountain of Light Church came third.
About 200 churches participated in the competition which spanned about two months. The grand finale took place on Christmas Eve in front of the Secretariat of the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government with hundreds of people in attendance.
The first three contestants went home with a sum of N1m, N750,000, and N500,000 respectively. Other participants were issued certificates of participation and consolation prizes.
The event that culminated in the emergence of the winners was keenly contested. About 1000 churches in the area were invited to participate in the contest. Only 200 of them showed interest.
Some participating church choirs at the concert
Why the concert
Kalejaiye in a statement said the gospel concert and talent hunt was in fulfillment of his campaign vow to God to acknowledge his mercy always. It also served the purpose of identifying and encouraging musical talents in the constituency.
He said he has a vision to grow talents and empower the youth in his constituency annually”He equally has it in mind to repeat the same for the Moslems during the coming Ramadan period and that’s also going to be done annually. ‘”Everyone and every sector of the federal constituents shall not be left out in my program”, he emphasised.
Present at the event were the chairmen of Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA and Ifelodun LCDA, Hon. Fatai Adekunle Ayoola and Hon. Olufemi Akanbi Okeowo respectively, the Olu Iwa of Apapa, Oba Moruf Oluwa.
The Chairman of Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Hon. Kamaldeen Ayinde Bayewu, erstwhile chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, Hon. Fatai Shuaib Ajidagba and a host of religious leaders were also present at the grand finale
Mr Kalejaiye flanked by Mr Segun Osinaike and another official during the concert
Beyond the concert
Apart from the concert, Kalejaiye also fed about 5000 residents of Ajegunle on Christmas Eve. Many residents who benefited from the gesture poured encomiums on him and prayed that his tenure would bear much fruit for the Ajeromi Local Government Area.
The first edition of the Merciful God Concert and Talent Hunts gulped about N30 million. The amount covered the logistics, prizes, and honorarium for officials who worked for the success of the competition.
