Singer So-Bliss has emerged as the winner of the NDC Rivers State Campaign Song Challenge, earning the grand prize of ₦1 million after impressing judges in a highly competitive contest featuring eleven finalists.
The event was graced by the Leader of the Party and sponsor of the initiative, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, alongside the Rivers State Chairman of the NDC, Hon. Success Jack, party candidates, and other members of the party leadership.
At the end of the event, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs stated that he remained throughout every performance, not out of obligation, but because he wanted to witness firsthand the talent and resilience of Rivers State’s creative community.
According to him, the contest highlighted the remarkable achievements of young creatives who have continued to build a thriving entertainment industry despite receiving little or no government support.
He expressed concern that the state’s most recent budget made no provision for the entertainment and creative sector, even as young people continue to organize concerts, stage productions, workshops, seminars, and other creative events throughout the year.
He emphasized that a government that truly understands its people must recognize that the state’s largest demographic is its youth and should invest in the industries they have built through creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Reflecting on his own history of investing in the entertainment industry, Opuda recalled establishing Rachel’s, a London-style pub, in Port Harcourt during the 1990s before later transforming Illusions at Orazzi from an overlooked location into one of the city’s most celebrated nightlife destinations that attracted visitors and celebrities from across the world.
He said those experiences taught him the importance of identifying promising ideas early and providing the support needed for them to flourish, an approach he intends to apply to Rivers State’s creative economy if elected governor.
Chief Lulu-Briggs described the initiative as only a glimpse of the opportunities his administration intends to create for Rivers creatives through deliberate investment, partnerships, and policies that recognize the economic value of the entertainment industry.
Congratulating So-Bliss on her victory, he praised all eleven finalists for their outstanding performances and assured them that their talents would not go unnoticed.
“The song will now carry our campaign forward as the official NDC Rivers State campaign song,” he said. “To every artist who stepped on that stage: I saw you, and I am with you.”
Deeply impressed by the outstanding performances, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs doubled the winner’s prize from ₦1 million to ₦2 million. In an extraordinary show of appreciation, he also rewarded each of the 10 finalists with ₦1 million in recognition of their exceptional talent and dedication.
The event underscored the NDC’s commitment to positioning the creative industry as a major driver of employment, youth empowerment, tourism, and economic development in Rivers State.