Actor Ebuka Eze has won the N7 million grand prize in the talent hunt show, The People's Hero.

Eight contestants slugged it out in the finals with solo performances to win the grand prize and the bragging right to the title of The People's Hero penultimate weekend.

Justice Alili, a spoken word artiste, who was saved by a wild card a week earlier, is the first runner up. He got N2 million.

Joel Uzoigwe, a dancer, also saved by a wild card, is the second runner up, winning N1 million.

The last woman standing, Favour Onyemaechi, got a consolation prize of N500,000.

Sponsored by Hero Lager Beer, a brand of International Breweries Plc, and produced by MTV Base, the show celebrates the richness and beauty of the Igbo culture through singing, dancing, spoken word and acting.

The grand finale was a festival of arts and culture richly expressing the Igbo tradition. The night began with a dance performance by the energetic Angel Nkwo, who showed passion and creativity in her craft.

Toby Okonta, a spoken word artiste, whose performance remarkably improved through the show, followed this.

Okonta's piece on the need for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria and Africa had the audience screaming for more. And in what has become her trademark, Favour Onyemaechi serenaded the audience and the judges with her melodious voice once again.

Joel Uzoigwe's non-repetitive dance moves made him a delight to watch - both for audience and judges.

According to the guest judge, Nkem Owoh, Joel performed to the superlative order with his dance steps.

Ebuka Eze's performance was according to the judges rich in meaning, content and delivery.

Nkem Owoh described his performance as flawless. In sharing his love story, spoken word artist Justice Alili, displayed his singing skills as he began his captivating lines with a beautiful song.

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Ellis McReynolds thrilled the audience with his rich voice, while Tehilla Terex's spoken word performance ended the night's performances on a brighter note.

Commenting on the performances, IllBliss and Rachael Okonkwo, judges from the audition stages, congratulated the finalists on their improvements through the competition and urged them to ensure they never lose faith in their gifts but sustain the passion that has seen them get to the grand finale.

The show host, Nedu, said it would have been nice to crown the finalists because they are all Hero-es in their rights. As announcements of the winners beckoned, Nedu asked the finalists to return to the stage. Onyemaechi was announced as the last woman standin, and rewarded with a N500,000 cash prize.

There was anxiety in the air as Nedu announced the top three contestants, namely Eze, Uzoigwe and Alili.

While Uzoigwe was announced as the second runner up, the audience went agog when Eze was declared as the winner and the first People's Hero.

International Breweries Plc Marketing Director Mrs. Tolulope Adedeji said 'the show has been absolutely phenomenal as it has uncovered talents that never had a platform to showcase their talents to the world.'

She also said the People's Hero and other contestants would be given further platforms to rise by featuring them in the company's events.

Country Manager of ViacomCBS Networks Africa Mr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson described the show as successful for meeting its objectives. He said ''it gladdens the heart to see young people whose talents were at raw state when discovered, turn to excellent artistes'' in weeks.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan