The Soundcity OnTour campus music tour has continued its nationwide movement with a stop at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU Zaria, delivering live performances, campus engagement, and new opportunities for emerging artistes. The event was sponsored by Rite Foods Limited, makers of BIGI and Fearless Energy Drink, under the BIGI Music platform.
The Zaria edition brought the full Soundcity OnTour concert experience to students of ABU. The evening featured performances from Nigerian artistes including Falz, Magnito, Firstklaz, Hypeman Best and DJ Dewik. The lineup also included other campus acts who performed to a packed audience of students, giving the ABU community an evening of music, entertainment, and brand activations.
Beyond the concert, the tour also focused on talent discovery. The BIGI Music segment of Soundcity OnTour is designed to identify promising artistes from Nigerian campuses and provide them with professional support to grow their music careers.
The rewards for participants extend beyond cash prizes given at each campus. According to the organisers, the eventual two national winners of the BIGI Music competition will receive a full package of professional development support. This includes studio production for their songs, A&R mentorship led by veteran music executive Bankulli, radio exposure on Soundcity Radio stations across Nigeria, and professionally produced music videos.
The package is aimed at helping the selected artistes transition from campus stages to the wider Nigerian music industry by giving them access to resources that are often difficult for new artistes to secure on their own.
Speaking on the partnership, representatives of Rite Foods Limited said the nationwide tour provides an opportunity to connect with young Nigerians through music and campus culture. The company stated that supporting platforms like Soundcity OnTour allows BIGI and Fearless Energy Drink to engage directly with students while also creating visibility for emerging talents who represent the future of Nigerian music.
With 15 campuses already covered since the tour began, Soundcity OnTour has moved across different regions of the country, engaging students and scouting talents in universities and polytechnics. The ABU Zaria stop adds to the growing list of institutions that have hosted the concert and talent hunt.
The next phase of the tour is scheduled for the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, in Ogun State. The campus activation is set to hold from September 29 to October 1, 2026. Organisers say students at FUNAAB should expect the same mix of live performances, brand experiences, and auditions for the BIGI Music competition.
As the tour moves to Ogun State, the BIGI Music journey continues to serve as a bridge for emerging artistes looking to move beyond university stages. For participants like Abisola, Bhig Moe and Ibrahim Binkaly who took part in the ABU Zaria auditions and performances, the experience could mark the beginning of a bigger journey in music.
Five more campuses are still expected to host Soundcity OnTour before the nationwide tour concludes in Abuja in October 2026. The grand finale in the nation’s capital is expected to announce the two national winners who will go on to receive the studio, mentorship, radio and video support package.
The Soundcity OnTour initiative continues to position itself as one of the major campus-to-industry platforms in Nigeria, combining entertainment with talent development and brand engagement for young Nigerians.