Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC Rivers State governorship candidate for the 2027 elections, Opuda, Alabo Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has pledged that the creative sector and entertainment industry will receive dedicated attention and budgeted financial support in recognition and appreciation of the creative output of young Rivers people who are producing shows and running workshops and seminars on a regular basis, when NDC takes over the reigns of governance in Rivers State.
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs who made the pledge during the NDC Rivers State theme Song Challenge, lamented that Rivers State has the highest concentration of event and show production south of the Niger, yet all of it has been built without a kobo of government support, even as he added that any government that understands who its people are, knows that the predominant demographic is young and as such, should not overlook the industry they’ve built with their own hands.
According to the Rivers NDC Governorship Candidate, the reason behind the campaign song contest, was to “give our young people a taste of what liberal creative access and government backing will actually look like when we come in”.
The winner of the NDC Campaign Theme song contest was a young Rivers girl who goes by the stage name: So-Bliss and her song will now carry the campaign forward as the official NDC Rivers State campaign song.
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs captured the essence and relevance of the NDC Campaign Theme song contest on his verified social media handles thus:
I sat through every performance at this contest, not out of obligation, but because I wanted to see for myself what this generation of Rivers creatives is building without any help from government.
Let me start with what the last budget for this state did not do. It made no room, none at all, for entertainment and the creative sector. Meanwhile, every single week, our young people are producing shows on the weekends and running workshops and seminars during the week.
Rivers State has the highest concentration of event and show production south of the Niger. All of it, built without a kobo of government support.
Any government that understands who its people are knows that our predominant demographic is young. If you understand that, you don’t overlook the industry they’ve built with their own hands: the Orange industry, creativity and innovation together.
What we did with this campaign song is give our young people a taste of what liberal creative access and government backing will actually look like when we come in.
I am not new to this space. In the 90s, I ran Rachel’s, a London-style pub, right here in town. Years later, I took Illusions at Orazzi, a location that was, at the time, a dead zone, and turned it into a club of the future, one that pulled in visitors and celebrities from all over the world.
I know what it means to spot something small and commit to growing it. That is exactly the instinct I intend to bring to how we treat this sector.
Every artist who performed left with something in hand, and the category winners took home more on top of that. That is a fragment, just a fragment, of the kind of support Rivers people should expect when we form government.
Congratulations to So-Bliss, our winner among eleven strong finalists.
Her song will now carry our campaign forward as the official NDC Rivers State campaign song. To every artist who stepped on that stage: I saw you, and I am with you.
Ceaselessly Yours,
Opuda, Alabo Dumo Lulu-Briggs
2027 NDC Governorship Candidate, Rivers State
A statement by the Media Directorate, NDC Rivers State disclosed that the NDC Rivers State theme Song Challenge recorded a remarkable success, with an overwhelming turnout of party faithful, supporters, and well-wishers. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, creativity, and hope as participants showcased their talents in what has become a historic event.
The event, according to the statement, 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.
This initiative is the first of its kind in Nigeria’s political history, demonstrating the NDC’s commitment to innovation, youth engagement, and creativity.
It was clearly emphasized that the event was not a political campaign, but rather a transparent process to select the official campaign theme song that will be used when the campaign season officially begins.
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.
This was more than a competition—it was a celebration of creativity, unity, and the spirit of the New Nigeria we seek to build, the statement concluded.
