MTN Nigeria Launches Music Initiative For Future Icons

MTN Nigeria Music Initiative launches to discover and shape the next generation of Afrobeats icons, offering mentorship, exposure, and a path to stardom

In a powerful statement during the media launch in Lagos, Onyinye Ikenna Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, described the initiative as a dream that will rise “from the streets of Lagos, echo through the valleys of Jos, and reach the farthest corners of Nigeria.”

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The Next Afrobeats Star initiative, powered by MTN Nigeria in collaboration with Ultima Studios and OneRPM, aims to discover, mentor, and develop the next global icon of Afrobeats.

The platform is designed not just to showcase raw talent, but to guide upcoming artists through education, mentorship, and structured career-building.

“This is where every aspiring Afrobeats artist should be,” said Emeka.

“Across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, there are hidden talents. For MTN, a brand built on progress, this is an opportunity to bring them to light.”

This is where every aspiring Afrobeats artist should be.

Music powerhouses like Puffy Tee, Andre Vibez, Sarz, and P.Priime will serve as mentors throughout the show, offering guidance rooted in real-world experience.

The Next Afrobeats Star show also comes with a rigorous format:

Solo entries only, age 18+

No rap or group entries allowed

Entry via text (Text NAS to 13013 – N300 per entry)

48 contestants go through auditions and face off in multiple challenge rounds

Final 12 proceed to the live televised shows

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More than just visibility, the show promises a full artist development journey  a real pathway to becoming the next Afrobeats sensation.