News
Plateau Government Celebrates Creative Excellence, Rewards Winners at Maiden ‘Sing for Plateau’ Competition
The Plateau State Government, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Creativity and Entertainment, Barr. Ezra Jinang, in collaboration with major brands and partners, successfully hosted the maiden edition of the highly anticipated “Sing for Plateau” competition. The initiative brought together talented musicians, digital content creators, poets, and dancers from across the state in a celebration of creativity, innovation, and culture. The event served as a platform to discover, promote, and showcase emerging talents while highlighting the rich cultural heritage and creative potential of Plateau State.
Held at the prestigious USIJU Event World Centre in Jos, the competition attracted a large audience comprising government officials, entertainment stakeholders, creative industry practitioners, and supporters of the arts. Contestants thrilled spectators with exceptional performances, originality, and artistic excellence, creating an atmosphere of excitement and healthy competition.
The process of selecting winners was rigorous and transparent, involving multiple stages of evaluation. Participants submitted original two-to-three-minute audio, video, dance, and poetry entries through digital platforms, with all content focused on promoting the positive image and cultural heritage of Plateau State. Entries were screened by the organizing committee and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Creativity and Entertainment for originality, creativity, and relevance to the theme. Shortlisted finalists were subsequently assessed by an independent panel of expert judges who evaluated the technical quality, creativity, and overall impact of each performance.
Following the final rounds of assessment and live performances, winners emerged across the four competition categories which included Digital content creation :Saga Media secured first position, while Gladys Mama of Doya and Aisha Abdulsalam came second and third respectively.
In the Dance Category, Royal DC emerged winner, followed by Diamond DC in second place and Lepsie Star in third place.
The Spoken Word/Poetry Category saw Word Priest claim first position, with Pages and Word Diva finishing second and third respectively.
In the Music Category, Mic Fix emerged overall winner, while United Plateau and Ben Heavens secured second and third positions
Each category winner goes home with whooping sum of One Million Naira, First runner up Two hundred thousand naira while second runner up goes home with hundred thousand naira..
Other participants were recognized with Certificates of Participation in appreciation of their contributions to the success of the competition.
Speaking at the event, Barr. Ezra Jinang commended all contestants for their dedication, creativity, and outstanding performances. He noted that the initiative aligns with the Plateau State Government’s commitment to youth empowerment, talent development, and the creation of sustainable opportunities within the creative and entertainment sectors. He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to continue supporting platforms that nurture talent and contribute to economic growth through the creative industry.
Representing the Plateau State Government, Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo presented awards and prizes to the winners and participants. She congratulated all the winners and applauded every contestant for demonstrating the immense talent that exists within Plateau State. According to her, the administration remains committed to supporting youth development, creativity, and innovation as critical drivers of sustainable development and economic prosperity.
Beyond the competition, the event also provided an opportunity to honour individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth of Plateau State’s creative and entertainment industry. Special recognition awards were presented to distinguished personalities including Dr. Panam Percy Paul, Nde Dantala Dewan, Pastor Miss Dorcas Bentu, Dr. Sani Mu’azu, Mr. Jethro Mark Da’ar, and several others for their dedication, leadership, and invaluable contributions to the advancement of arts, culture, and entertainment on the Plateau and beyond.
Stakeholders described the maiden edition of “Sing for Plateau” as a major milestone in the state’s creative journey, expressing optimism that the initiative will become an annual platform for discovering and nurturing talents, strengthening the entertainment industry, and positioning Plateau State as a leading hub for creative excellence in Nigeria.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has applauded the Federal Government’s signing of the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026, describing it as a landmark reform that will enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness for deep offshore investment.
President Bola Tinubu approved the order on Tuesday as part of efforts to attract large-scale investments into Nigeria’s deep offshore oil and gas sector.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NNPC said the new order establishes a transparent, predictable, and globally competitive fiscal framework for qualifying greenfield deep-offshore developments.
The company said the framework would provide the certainty required to unlock long-term capital, accelerate Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) and maximise value from Nigeria’s offshore resources.
The order is expected to support Nigeria’s ambition of increasing crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day (MMbopd) by 2030.
Framework to unlock offshore investments
President Tinubu, while announcing the approval on Tuesday, said the new incentive framework could unlock up to $50 billion in deep offshore investments, beginning with the approximately $10 billion Bonga South West project.
“I have signed the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026, creating a clear and predictable framework capable of unlocking up to $50 billion in deep offshore investment, beginning with the approximately $10 billion Bonga South West project,” Mr Tinubu said.
The policy aims to make previously stalled offshore projects commercially viable by providing investors with tax incentives and greater certainty regarding the fiscal terms governing their investments.
According to NNPC, the framework is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s position as an attractive destination for deep-offshore oil and gas development and unlock more than $50 billion in new investment.
It said the expected investments include major projects such as Bonga South West, Zabazaba and Owowo Deep Offshore developments.
Bonga South West, which was approved in March 2026, is expected to be the first Final Investment Decision on a Nigerian deepwater Production Sharing Contract asset since 2008.
‘Transformative reform’
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Bashir Ojulari, described the order as one of the most significant policy interventions in Nigeria’s upstream sector in recent years.
“This is a transformative reform that sends a strong signal to global investors that Nigeria is committed to providing a stable, competitive and investment-friendly environment for deep offshore development,” Mr Ojulari said.
“Fiscal certainty is a critical driver of investment decisions, and this framework provides the additional clarity the industry has long sought,” he added.
Mr Ojulari said the order aligns with NNPC’s strategy of protecting existing production, accelerating near-term growth and attracting new investments into high-value assets.
“For NNPC Ltd., the Order aligns directly with our strategy of protecting our existing production base, accelerating near-term growth, and attracting new investment into high-value assets,” he said.
He said the reform strengthens the company’s confidence in achieving its 3 MMbopd production ambition while creating greater value for its shareholders and the Nigerian economy.
Mr Ojulari said recent reforms across Nigeria’s petroleum sector had already stimulated more than $34 billion in new investment commitments.
READ ALSO: NNPC posts ₦535 billion profit, records 1.72 million barrels daily oil output in June
He said the Deep Offshore Incentives Order would build on the momentum by enabling timely FIDs on strategic offshore developments.
The NNPC chief executive commended President Tinubu for his commitment to creating an enabling environment for investment and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s energy sector through a series of presidential executive orders.
The company said the latest reform reinforces its commitment to driving sustainable production growth, attracting responsible investment, strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and delivering long-term value to the Federation.
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