At Bowen University in Iwo, Osun State, nurturing talent is a mission. This commitment was on full display at the recently concluded Season X of Bowen’s Got Talent (BGT), the largest social event at the university. Over the past decade, BGT has become a vibrant platform for students to discover, develop, and showcase their talents, marking an important milestone with its 10th anniversary.

This year’s theme, “Stars in the Making,” lived up to its name, featuring a grand prize of ₦300,000 in cash and prizes. Cherish Daniel led the organization as chairperson, supported by vice-chairperson Ogooluwa-Pelumi Oduyemi, general secretary Ilori Subuola, and other team leads, including Oreoluwa Babatunde, Awokson Kuyet, and Olanipekun Oreoluwa.

For the first time, BGT attracted sponsorships from the United Bank for Africa, Sycamore, Campus Giant, Pizzazz Media, and student organizations like Hanky Panky, TM Scent, and Walk in Style.

Season X kicked off on March 16, 2024, with auditions showcasing a diverse array of talents, including dancers, singers, comedians, chefs, trumpeters, artists, saxophonists, violinists, spoken word artists, pianists, and even a boy band. Recognizing the importance of development and second chances, a live show on March 24, 2024, gave those who faltered in auditions another opportunity to shine.

Successful participants progressed to the quarter-finals on April 6, 2024, featuring the theme “All Stars Fight for Love.” Contestants were paired randomly and tasked with creating performances cantered on love, challenging their creativity and collaboration skills. The semi-finals featured an unprecedented Alumni Show, bringing back fan favourites and pioneers of BGT as judges, hosts, and guest performers. From 20 semi-finalists, only 10 advanced to the finals.

On May 19, 2024, Bowen University witnessed the grand finale of BGT Season X. The winner was Rano, a trumpeter from the 100-level Medicine and Surgery program, who won the ₦300,000 mega-cheque. The first runner-up, Tega, a spoken word artist from the 200-level Nursing program, received ₦200,000, and the second runner-up, The King, a dancer from the 400-level Mass Communication program, was awarded ₦100,000.

BGT has consistently fulfilled its mission of celebrating and nurturing creativity at Bowen University. Every participant, organizer, judge, guest performer, and audience member played a crucial role in the success of Season X. As the university reflects on a decade of creative excellence, it’s clear that Bowen truly does have talent. Here’s the ten years of discovering, developing, and showcasing brilliance at Bowen University.