By Emmanuel Daniji

Gospel singer Chidinma Ekile has revealed that she once left Nigeria with no plans of returning, saying she even tried to secure permanent residency abroad before her plans failed.

The singer made this revelation at a recent event organised by Eezee Conceptz, the gospel music label she later joined after leaving secular music.

According to Chidinma, she travelled abroad at a time when she wanted to start a new life outside Nigeria. She said she was processing her papers to remain abroad permanently because she did not want to come back.

“I travelled. I ran away from Nigeria. I was processing my papers not to come back to Nigeria, but for some reason, it didn’t work,” she said.

Chidinma explained that while she was abroad, the Chief Executive Officer of Eezee Conceptz was the only person from Nigeria who continued to call and encourage her.

She said his calls helped give her the strength to return home. After coming back, she approached him and asked for a gospel music contract because she wanted to dedicate more time to her relationship with God.

“He kept encouraging me, and I found the strength to come back to Nigeria. When I came back, I asked him to give me a gospel music contract because I want to spend time with God. And he gave me a contract that even my lawyer said seemed like a charity,” she recalled.

The singer also explained that her decision to switch from secular music to gospel was not initially driven by a desire to make gospel songs. Rather, she said, her main motivation was to build a deeper relationship with God.

Chidinma first rose to prominence in 2010 after winning the third season of Project Fame West Africa. She went on to establish herself in the Nigerian music industry with hit songs, including Kedike, before making a major career change into gospel music.

Her transition marked a new chapter in her musical journey, as she began releasing gospel songs and working with Eezee Conceptz, a label known for its gospel artistes.

Her latest revelation offers a glimpse into the personal journey behind that change, suggesting that her move into gospel music was tied to a period of uncertainty, a failed plan to settle abroad and a renewed desire to focus on her faith.