Why Access Bank, NB Plc avoided far North in ‘Access the Stars’ reality show
Fresh fact has emerged on why the coverage of debutant music reality show, ‘Access the Stars’ powered by Access Bank and Nigerian Breweries (NB Plc) did not go beyond Abuja even though larger number of Nigerian youths reside across the northern states.
This is based on the fact that majority of the northern states do not allow sales and consumption of beer and other alcoholic drinks due to religious affinity backed by Sharia law and Hisbah taskforce.
For several times in Kano and other states, Hisbah Police had been destroying impounded bottles and cartons of beer and other alcoholic drinks for violating Sharia provisions even though the states had been getting allocations from VAT, which is made up of over 60 per cent collection from sales of alcoholic drinks including beer.
This narrative has caused serious need for review of VAT earnings sharing formula in a way and manner that states that do not allow sales of alcoholic drinks will not take part in sharing VAT generated from alcoholics.
However, explaining more at the inaugural press briefing in Lagos, the organisers say the show will kick off with regional auditions in six cities of Abeokuta, Lagos, Abuja, Onitsha, Calabar and Owerri with wild card entries for online submissions.
According to the chief executive of NB Plc, Mr Jordi Borrut Bel, he said that the country had the talent and creativity to help push its economy, stressing that ‘ACCESS the Stars’, a new music reality talent hunt to discover and grow new stars was unveiled in Lagos to empower creative minds of Nigerian youths.
Details and goodies coming with the show include N150 million grand prize and brand new car, among other consolation prizes.
Borrut Bel added that “This journey has started and it will start in earnest at the end of the year and so interested persons should do the needful as ‘Access the Stars’ is a platform that will be used to help grow talents not just in Nigeria but in Africa.
He added that this was also to bring something new and more entertaining to our consumers, where they not only enjoy good music, but get the opportunity to have their own voices and music showcased to the rest of the world.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Dr Herbert Wigwe, said the platform was about accessing raw talents and making them shine even more.
He averred that “Access the Stars comes from the desire of both brands to continue to connect with people through the one platform they both have in common – music.
“There is need to support young people that abounds in the country, socially impact them, bring out these great talents and supporting national development is the major trust of this partnership.
“There is also the need to appreciate these talents and this can help change the narrative of how the youth of this country are seen and to do this is through the ‘Access the Star’ platform,” he said.
Also speaking, NB Spokesperson, Shade Morgan noted that the main focus of the collaboration was to empower the creative minds in the country and that the collective strength of the two organisation was leveraged upon to come out with the platform aimed at impacting the youth in the creative space.
According to her, “70 years ago a star was born and has been shining over the Nigerian landscape and titillating the fans, and now is collaborating with another star. This innovative collaboration will help to bring value to the life of people in the creative space.”
