LAGOS, NIGERIA — The 2026 edition of the Big Brain Festac Grand Finale, tagged “The Ultimate Battle of Minds,” has concluded in Festac Town, Lagos, with Olasukanmi Esther emerging as the Best Female and Overall Winner of the competition.
The grand finale, held on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 23 Road Park, Hennessy Court, brought together outstanding young minds for a keenly contested intellectual competition designed to test knowledge, speed, confidence, strategy and critical thinking.
Held under the theme “Think. Strategize. Conquer. Win!”, the competition sought to create a platform where academic excellence could be celebrated and rewarded in a society where young people are often encouraged to pursue success primarily through entertainment and popular culture.
Olasukanmi Esther Takes Top Prize
Esther delivered the standout performance of the competition to emerge Best Female and Overall Winner, taking home a combined ₦1.5 million prize.
Sadiq Miqdad emerged as Best Male, winning ₦500,000 for his outstanding performance.
Betiku Adedolapo Mary finished in second position, receiving ₦300,000, while Obi Divine Favor took third position and received ₦200,000.
The prize structure reflected the organisers’ commitment to making intellectual excellence not only visible but financially rewarding.
More Than a Quiz Competition
Big Brain Festac was conceived as more than a conventional quiz competition. It provided young people with an opportunity to demonstrate their intellectual abilities before an audience while competing for substantial financial rewards and educational opportunities.
The event featured intense quiz sessions and challenging rounds requiring participants to draw on their knowledge, quick thinking and strategic ability.
For the organisers, the objective was to send a simple but important message to young people: academic excellence can be celebrated, rewarded and become a pathway to success.
“If society can put money, fame and applause behind entertainment, we must also put money behind intelligence. Big Brain Festac is our way of showing young people that you can study, excel academically, win scholarships and still win in life. We want intelligence to trend.”
— Maha Azubuike (MC Totori), Convener, Big Brain Festac
Sponsors Champion the Cause
The initiative received support from sponsors who shared the vision of investing in young people and creating platforms for intellectual development.
Victoria Ezenwoke, UBA Representative, said: “Supporting Big Brain Festac is an investment in the potential of young Nigerians. We want to encourage a generation that is confident, knowledgeable and prepared to lead, innovate and make a difference.”
Udia Attai of Players Management Group (PMG) said: “Big Brain Festac reminds us that excellence is not limited to the sporting field. We are proud to support a platform that celebrates intelligence, discipline and the competitive spirit of young people.”
Their support helped strengthen the competition’s ability to recognise and reward outstanding performances while reinforcing the broader message of investing in Nigeria’s younger generation.
The Man Behind Big Brain Festac
Maha Azubuike, popularly known as MC Totori, is a seasoned Master of Ceremonies, comedian, entertainer, social commentator, entrepreneur and community advocate.
A proud indigene of Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, MC Totori was born and raised in Festac Town, Lagos, a community that has remained central to his personal journey and passion for community development.
He studied Business Administration and Management at Auchi Polytechnic, where he also served as Director of Socials, Students’ Union Government (SUG), during the 2010/2011 session.
Before pursuing entertainment full-time in 2015, he built professional experience in the corporate sector, working with Intercontinental Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and South Atlantic.
Since transitioning into entertainment, MC Totori has established himself as a respected MC, comedian and event host, working with notable corporate organisations including Chevron, Clarke Energy and Custodian Insurance Company, among others.
His achievements in entertainment have earned him several awards and recognitions, including Best Comedian in Festac Town (2017), Most Entertaining Youth at NYSC Camp, Anambra State (2012), Most Influential Comedian in Amuwo-Odofin (2023) and Most Influential Comedian, Lagos West (2025).
Beyond entertainment, he is passionate about education, youth empowerment, community development and social advocacy, including efforts to discourage drug and substance abuse among young people.
Big Brain Festac represents an extension of that commitment—using his public platform to promote a culture in which knowledge, discipline and intellectual ability receive the recognition they deserve.
Inspiring a Culture of Intellectual Excellence
The successful conclusion of the 2026 Grand Finale has positioned Big Brain Festac as a platform with an ambitious message: intelligence should be celebrated as much as entertainment and other forms of popular achievement.
The organisers believe that when young people see their academic abilities being celebrated and rewarded, they are encouraged to take education more seriously, develop their talents and aspire to excellence.
For the winners, the event provided tangible rewards. For the wider audience, it offered something equally important—a reminder that brilliance, preparation and knowledge can open doors.
“We want intelligence to trend.”
BIG BRAIN FESTAC 2026
The Ultimate Battle of Minds
Think. Strategize. Conquer. Win.
