Benue-born celebrity artist Lady Pesh has continued her mission to spotlight and support local talent by hosting renowned academic and political figure Professor Kohol Iornem on her Facebook Live platform. Lady Pesh was born as Mlumun Patience Oryina.

The rising star, who has spent over a decade in the music industry, has been inviting influential personalities to her platform as part of a strategic push to promote her brand and music label. Her recent conversation with Prof. Iornem delved into the struggles faced by artists in Benue and across Nigeria.

Lady Pesh said, “I have been into music for the past 12 years. It hasn’t been easy staying consistent, but I keep pushing. My audience is growing, and I’m investing more in my creativity and appearance. Even without sponsorship, my manager and I built a website where fans can buy my songs directly—without any third-party involvement.”

She noted that despite making her music available on digital platforms, the financial returns are low, often not enough to cover studio production costs. The direct-to-fan sales model, she said, is helping her raise funds to independently sponsor future music projects.

Prof. Iornem praised Lady Pesh’s resilience and entrepreneurial mindset, pledging to support her brand with both funding and publicity. He further promised to connect her with his network in the United Kingdom, offering to introduce her music to new audiences abroad.

“Remain consistent,” Prof. Iornem advised. “Just like the Product-Lifecycle, your brand will grow, peak, and may eventually decline. To stay relevant, you must innovate, repackage, differentiate, or find new markets,” he added.

Encouraging the artist to always seize opportunities for self-promotion, Prof. Iornem stated: “Anywhere you go, make sure people know about your brand. Even if it means giving them a taste of your music—do it. Grow your network. Don’t put money first; focus on the exposure.”

Citing an example from his own experience, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain recalled inviting the popular Benue artist, Rapizo, to perform in London. That exposure, he said, led to further opportunities for the singer, including a performance in Dubai.

During the live session, the renowned academic and development enthusiast revealed that his constituency, the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, have been urging him to return to active politics ahead of the 2027 elections. Prof. Iornem, who contested in the 2023 general elections but did not clinch the seat, said the people have continued to recognise his impact through various humanitarian projects and community outreach initiatives—even without holding any political office.

“My constituency has been beckoning on me to come back in 2027,” he stated. “They see what I’ve been doing—supporting communities, empowering youth, intervening in education and infrastructure—without being in government. If my people insist that I represent them, who am I to say no?”

He shared that his grassroots, door-to-door campaign exposed many challenges in the region, including poor infrastructure and security threats. He described a dire situation where a stretch of road between Nyihemba and Ityu Ukase in Kwande, lacking network coverage for three hours, posed a serious security risk. “When herdsmen attacked nearby villages, there was no communication, and no way to call for help,” he said.

On a lighter note, Prof. Iornem urged viewers—over 4,000 who tuned in—to have a profession outside politics. “It is only when you have a job that you can truly contribute meaningfully to your community,” he said.

While acknowledging the artist’s skill in marketing and branding, he cautioned about the delicate relationship between politics and entertainment.

“Politics, like Rapizo’s song, says, ‘Pati Pav Tiv.’ Once you mix politics with music, some of your audience may withdraw support simply because you may be supporting their political opponent.”

The engaging session left viewers inspired, as Lady Pesh continues to break boundaries in the Benue music scene, using her platform not just for self-promotion but for community engagement and advocacy.