She spoke like a little charming girl with tall dreams. Her speech moved many to tears, as little Amarach Uyanne promised to use part of her N10 million prize money to assist orphanage homes, and the rest, to achieve her dream of becoming a Medical Doctor.
Date was December 9, 2012, but 10 months down the line, it appears her prize money is still in transit. The pupil of Primary 5 from Delta State, was declared winner of last year’s mix-genre reality show; ‘Nigeria’s Got Talent’ sponsored by telecommunication company, Airtel. And perhaps, each passing day, she would look at the picture of the dummy cheque, the smiles on everybody’s face as they cheered her to victory, asking her mum when the actual money will get to them.
“That cannot be true,” said Obinna Anichie, General Manager Brand Assets, & Marketing Properties at Marketing Director Bharti Airtel International, apparently taken aback when confronted with the claim. Looking ruffled, Anichie stuttered: “that’s not true…” he repeated the statement, shaking his head in disbelief. He said he has been in Nairobi for awhile, and only just got back to Nigeria. Quickly, he summoned the Managing Director of Rapid Blue Format, Rotimi Pedro.
Pedro debunked the claim, stating that the girl received her money less than 28 days after the competition. “She has been paid her money. The tradition is that we present the dummy to the winner on state and within 28 days, they are paid. Amarachi got her money less than 28 days after the grand finale. She was meant to be here today, but it would be irresponsible of anyone to pull her out of school. She performed at the Airtel Rising Stars event about two weeks back.” Pedro said to The Nation at the formal unveiling of Season 2 of the show. Corroborating his position, Adaora Mbelu, Project Manager for the show, posited that Amarachi, was truly paid.
The controversy on whether or not Amarachi has been paid her prize money arose, when a family source to the dancer claimed that the show organisers are yet to redeem their pledge.
The source said Amarachi’s mother has decided to ‘leave the matter to God’ after several attempts to get the show organisers to pay up the pledge. The source noted that they had thought of taking the case to court, but for fear of losing other social benefits from the organisers.
It would be recalled that Amarachi had performed alongside Nigerian music heavy-weight, 2face Idibia, at the Agege Township Stadium on Sunday, September 22nd, 2013, during the closing ceremony of the Airtel Rising Stars Africa Championship.
Asked where Amarachi got money to shoot her recent video, the source said the money was sourced personally, and just so, the aspiration of the little girl is not left unaided.
The source said Amarachi’s mum has been warning them to desist from the issue, asking them to lie to whoever asks them, that the prize money had been redeemed.
Perhaps sensing media’s inquisitiveness on the matter, Mrs. Uyanne, would picked her calls several times, but did not utter a word, when The Nation attempted to speak with her on the matter.
Another season of the talent show has been announced by organizers, with the first leg of auditions already done in Abuja last week.
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