Comedian Shokunbi gets N1m, scholarship after winning skit contest

A fast-rising online comedian named Qudus Shokunbi has been unveiled as the winner of Airtel TV’s skit contest.

Airtel TV had a presentation event for its first Super Skit Makers contest on Wednesday at its Lagos headquarters.

Shokunbi received a ₦1,000,000 cash reward and a scholarship to Del-York Creative Academy, a Lagos film school.

The media brand, owned by the telecommunication company Airtel, handed out prizes ranging from ₦250,000 to ₦1,000,000.

Launched in March 2023, the Airtel TV Super Skit-Makers competition is an initiative by the fledgling platform to “recognize and reward the country’s outstanding talent” in the emerging online skits genre.

Shokunbi received his prize in the midst of a thrilled crowd at the presentation ceremony.

“I am happy that Airtel TV organized this competition and offered this large prize. Their support will go a long way to encourage more youths to produce more creative skits,” the skit maker said.

Shokunbi’s win was followed by additional prizes for other winners and contestants.

The second and third-place winners were presented with cash prizes of ₦500,000 and ₦250,000, respectively, alongside similar film school scholarships.

For their notable participation, makers of the top 10 most viewed videos that were entered into the competition also received branded Airtel TV merchandise.

Speaking at the event, Femi Oshinlaja, chief commercial officer at Airtel Nigeria, said: “Airtel Nigeria is excited to host the Skit-Makers and celebrate the incredible contributions of young skit-makers to the comedy genre.

“We believe in supporting and promoting creativity in Nigeria, and with Airtel TV, we are thrilled to recognize and reward the impact of these talented creators.

“We hope that the prizes will not only serve as a form of recognition for the winners but also as a source of inspiration to other aspiring skit makers.”