From left: BIGI Music Competition second runner-up, Ibrahim Yakubu Binkalim (Ibrahim Binkaly); winner, Olaniyi Oluwakemi Abisola (Abisola); and first runner-up, Moses Yakubu Ibrahim (Bhig Moe), display their cash prizes after the competition at the Soundcity OnTour activation at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Abayomi Susan
The BIGI Music stage at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, came alive with impressive performances from emerging student artistes as Olaniyi Oluwakemi Abisola, popularly known as Abisola, emerged winner of the BIGI Music Competition at the 15th stop of Soundcity OnTour.
Abisola secured the top position after delivering a standout performance during the BIGI Music auditions held from August 18 to 20. She emerged ahead of a strong field of promising young artistes who competed before both judges and a live campus audience.
Moses Yakubu Ibrahim, known professionally as Bhig Moe, emerged as the first runner-up, while Ibrahim Yakubu Binkalim, popularly known as Ibrahim Binkaly, finished in third place.
The top three performers shared a total cash prize of ₦1 million. Abisola received ₦500,000 as the overall winner, while Bhig Moe and Ibrahim Binkaly took home ₦350,000 and ₦150,000 respectively.
Beyond the competition, the BIGI Music auditions transformed the ABU Zaria stop into a platform for talent discovery, giving aspiring artistes the opportunity to perform before a live audience, compete for financial rewards and gain exposure that could help advance their musical careers.
The Zaria activation represented the 15th stop of the 20-campus Soundcity OnTour, sponsored by BIGI and Fearless Energy Drink and scheduled to travel across Nigerian universities from June to October 2026. The nationwide tour combines music, entertainment, campus culture and talent discovery in an experience designed to engage young Nigerians.
The three-day activation at ABU followed the tour’s established programme. Day One featured campus engagement and build-up activities, while Day Two focused on the BIGI Music auditions. The experience climaxed on Day Three with the main Soundcity OnTour concert.
Through the BIGI Music platform, aspiring student artistes are provided with opportunities to transition from university stages to broader platforms within the Nigerian music industry. Standout performers from different university stops will have the opportunity to compete in regional battles, with the strongest acts progressing to the national stage.
The opportunities extend beyond the cash prizes awarded at individual campus stops. The eventual two national winners will receive studio production support, A&R mentorship from Bankulli, exposure on Soundcity Radio and professionally produced music videos.
The Zaria edition also featured the full Soundcity OnTour concert experience, with performances from Falz, Magnito, Firstklaz, Hypeman Best and DJ Dewik, among other entertainers, providing members of the ABU community with an evening of music and entertainment.
For Rite Foods Limited, makers of BIGI and Fearless Energy Drink, the nationwide tour represents an avenue to engage young Nigerians through music and campus culture while supporting initiatives that provide emerging artistes with opportunities to showcase their abilities and build visibility.
With 15 campuses already covered, Soundcity OnTour is set to continue its journey across the country. The next stop is scheduled for the Federal University of Agriculture, Ogun State, from September 29 to October 1, 2026.
As the tour progresses to its next destination, the BIGI Music platform continues to create opportunities for young artistes to move beyond university stages and pursue greater prospects within Nigeria’s music industry. For Abisola, Bhig Moe and Ibrahim Binkaly, their performances at ABU Zaria could mark the beginning of an even bigger musical journey, as five more campuses remain before the tour concludes in Abuja in October.
