By: Our Staff Writer

Nicholas Buigar, Liberia’s newest musical idol, was presented with a brand new, blue Toyota Corolla over the weekend as part of his awards from the just-concluded MTN Project Fame 2009 held in the West African State of Nigeria.

Nicholas won a cash prize of N1.5 million (which is equivalent to more than US$9,000) and a brand new Toyota Corolla vehicle as first runner-up in the competition. The vehicle costs over US$30,000 and it is a 2009 model, according to the Manager of Toyota Garage Liberia Limited.

Nicholas, who turns 19 on the 27th of October, returned home from Nigeria about three weeks ago amid a rousing welcome as hundreds of Liberians lined the route from the Roberts International Airport (RIA) to Central Monrovia to give him his due.

The name Nicholas Buigar has become a household name in Liberia following his outstanding performance in the just-ended MTN Project Fame competition in Nigeria, in which he finished as the first runner-up in a tensely contested singing and talent competition that attracted dozens of talents from the West African region.

The MTN Project Fame competition is an annual event intended to tap the best of West Africa’s young musical talents. This year’s event attracted some 60,000 participants from across the West African sub-region, with over 600 entries from Liberia alone.

At a brief presentation ceremony, which took place at the Toyota Garage on Bushrod Island, Monrovia, Project Fame Representative to Liberia Jeanette Krote said she was happy that her group was finally fulfilling its promise to Nicholas.

“This shows that we have fulfilled our promise to you as the first runner-up of our competition in Nigeria. I am also proud of you Nicholas”, Krote told Nicholas as she presented the key to the four-door Toyota Corolla amid cheers from his mother and other well wishers who had gone to see for themselves the authenticity of Nicholas’ award.

According to Krote, there were auditions held at the Monrovia City Hall in Monrovia early this year after which 18 applicants performed to a team of selected judges’ satisfaction. Out of the 18 applicants sent to Nigeria, only two—Nicholas and Sametta Tupee Morris—qualified for the general audition that led to the contestants entering in the academy that lasted for about 10 weeks.

Following several auditions over a period of time, 24 participants entered the competition including Liberia’s own Nicholas and his other two compatriots. The ten-week old competition finally ended with Nicholas emerging as first runner-up behind Mike Anyasodo of Nigeria. He was the only Liberian left among the last five finalists, the rest being Nigerians that made it to the final stage of the competition.

Nicholas again used the occasion to first give thanks to God and his fans and all who stood by him during his over ten weeks of stay at the Project Fame Academy in the commercial Nigerian city of Lagos. “It was you, your votes by SMS that helped to get me to where I am today. Thank you very much for your support”, the young singer who turns 19 years old this month said as he received the key to his new vehicle. He then ended with a short but beautiful song.

The young singer during an exclusive interview said he will not allow fame to get to his head: “No, I am not going to be complacent because I won “A Star Is Born” and did well in Project Fame. In fact, this is just the beginning. Even now, I feel like doing bigger things. I’m thinking about going big, like MTV-Base, Channel O and stuff like that. So, this is just the beginning”.

The singer says while in Nigeria, he knew that he was representing his country and often said to himself, ’Hey, do all you can because this is Liberia you’re representing here. It was actually tough; I mean strange place, strange people and strange food. But by God’s grace, I made it through”.