The 2025 Remo Christians Choir Festival competition is scheduled for 6 July, with a ₦30 million grand prize.
The festival, an annual event founded and sponsored for the past 20 years by Senator Gbenga Daniel , who represents Ogun East, is held annually in Ogun State. The event was expanded in the last four years to include prizes for winners, making it more competitive for participating choirs nationwide and beyond.
Addressing newsmen on Monday in Lagos, Daniel said he was motivated by his experience as a member of the Baptist Boys’ High School, Ogun, where he served as a chorister and college pianist.
The senator said music played a pivotal role in shaping his spiritual and musical journey.
“These formative experiences laid the foundation for my passion for music and its potential to inspire and uplift others,” he said.
He explained that he realised he could use the festival to mould and influence the values and morals of the younger generation.
“So much has changed in society, with people no longer asking questions about morals.
“My passion is how to support upcoming generations and change the psyche of our people using this festival.
“We need to create more interest in music and choir culture and use it to influence the upbringing of future generations, instilling morals and redirecting them to what is right.
“Growing up, people asked about the source of sudden wealth, but these days, nobody cares. The moral decadence is such that it must be addressed.
“This is one of the ways I have chosen to influence young minds to be disciplined and do the right thing,” he said.
The Asiwaju of Remo, who are the organisers urged parents to do more in changing the value system, which he said would go a long way in reshaping society.
Also speaking, Dr Opeyemi Asaolu, Curator and Member of the Organising Board of the festival, said 850 choristers are expected at the event.
Asaolu said the 2025 event would hold at the Abraham Tabernacle Church, Sagamu, Ogun State, an ecumenical church under the management of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
Also Read: Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Revival of National Sports Commission
He said nine choirs had qualified for the competition, an increase from the usual six choirs in the past three editions.
“The only choir that has automatic qualification for the competition is the host choir, the Abraham Tabernacle Choir.
“Also, the choir defending its winning title qualifies automatically for the next edition.
“The total amount of prize money to be won at this year’s edition of the Choir Festival is ₦30 million, with the winner going home with ₦5 million.
“The second prize is ₦3.5 million, the third prize is ₦2.5 million, fourth prize ₦1 million, fifth prize ₦900,000, sixth prize ₦800,000, seventh prize ₦700,000, eighth prize ₦600,000, and ninth prize ₦500,000.
“We have 21 observing choirs, and they will go home with ₦500,000 each,” he said.
He explained that participants were chosen after auditioning, noting that the choirs for the 2025 edition were selected from various parts of the country.
He urged Nigerians to join in sponsoring the festival to enable greater participation.
The 2024 edition was held in Remo, Sagamu, hometown of Daniel, a former governor of Ogun and Asiwaju of Remo.
In 2024, ₦10 million was set aside as prizes for participants, with the winning choir receiving ₦3 million compared to ₦5 million for the winning choir in the 2025 competition.
Other members of the Governing Board of the festival are Ms Lilian Imoni, Dr Adeola Badru, and Mr Seun Owoaje.
