Candy brand TomTom rewards two young music talents with cash and mentorship after a vibrant ‘Breathe Through It Verse Challenge’ competition in Agege, Lagos

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]andy brand TomTom has celebrated and rewarded two promising young music talents with significant cash prizes and brand support following the successful conclusion of its ‘Breathe Through It Verse Challenge’ competition held in Agege, Lagos.

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The brand stated that the ‘Breathe Through It Verse Challenge’ was initiated to provide a platform for young individuals to express their creativity and gain access to structured mentorship opportunities within the dynamic creative industry.

Abidemi Ajayi, Category Manager for Gum and Candy at Cadbury West Africa, explained that the brand’s strong commitment to nurturing grassroots creativity led to the decision to honour two exceptional contestants, Lukuman “Leekee” Kamilu and Haruna “Dannyboi” Mohammed, instead of just one winner at the Agege edition of the challenge.

“What we witnessed in Agege was nothing short of incredible. The energy, the message, the artistry, these young talents brought it all to the stage,” Ajayi remarked.

“At TomTom, we are deeply committed to giving voice to the next generation. The performances by Leekee and Dannyboi proved that sometimes, one winner just isn’t enough,” she added.

“What we witnessed in Agege was nothing short of incredible. The energy, the message, the artistry, these young talents brought it all to the stage.” – Abidemi Ajayi

Leekee emerged as the overall winner of the fiercely contested competition. He was rewarded with a substantial N1 million cash prize, a six-month supply of TomTom candy bars, and a coveted spot at the TomTom Breathe Academy, a dedicated creative mentorship and brand-building hub.

Dannyboi was recognised as the first runner-up and received a prize of N300,000, a six-month supply of TomTom candy bars, and also secured a place in the Breathe Academy.

The Agege event, which took place on Saturday, May 10, at the Amoo Football Pitch, witnessed an impressive turnout of over 100 contestants. Organisers described the event as “a fiercely contested showdown of lyrical power, creativity, and authenticity,” highlighting the high level of talent on display.

The judging panel for the challenge comprised prominent figures in the Nigerian music scene, including afro-street artist Small Doctor, rap act Candy Bleakz, and John Paul, a Music Director at the Catholic Church, Isolo Deanery.

The judges collectively praised the remarkable depth of talent and the originality demonstrated by the participating young artists.

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The ‘Barz on Wheelz’ challenge is part of TomTom’s ongoing Lagos-wide talent discovery tour. According to the brand, the tour will continue its search for emerging talent in Oshodi on Saturday, May 17, and in Ikorodu on Saturday, May 24.