In a recent interview with HipTV, Nigerian songstress Omawumi Megbele recounted how music producer Cobhams Asuquo became a pivotal figure in her early career , offering her a project when few doors were open, and ultimately helping springboard her into greater visibility.
Omawumi, who first came into public view through Idols West Africa, recalled that soon after the show, she crossed paths with Cobhams Asuquo. She described the meeting as transformational,
“Cobhams gave me one of my first opportunities outside Idols West Africa,” she said.
Though both of them were entering uncharted terrain, Cobhams confident in his musical instincts asked her to take part in a project he was working on, trusting that something meaningful could emerge. That leap of faith would turn out to be a turning point in her musical journey.
The song they worked on together ended up doing more than just elevate her name. It became the foundation for Omawumi’s first major endorsement deal, she became a brand ambassador for a product for two years. That visibility carried her onto bigger stages, she went on to perform alongside prominent acts like P‑Square across multiple cities.
She emphasized that Cobhams’ role was more than technical production. He taught her the subtleties of performance, how to “deliver emotion through stage presence,” refine posture, and truly own the space she occupied on stage.
Omawumi’s reflection highlights a pattern that’s common and vital in many creative industries: a single opportunity, extended in confidence by someone already in the field, can change a trajectory. In Nigerian music especially, strong mentorship, producer–artist relationships, and intentional collaboration have produced many success stories over the years.
Cobhams himself is widely recognized not only for his production abilities but also for his knack for nurturing talent. His fingerprints are on many projects and careers in Nigeria (and beyond). Though not every artist he works with gets spotlighted as prominently as Omawumi, her story stands as testimony to what can happen when someone is willing to invest early in a budding talent.
