Gospel reggae crooner and songwriter, Ibrahim David Gajere, popularly known as Ibi Dave, has said his career in Accounting, which began as a fulfilment of his parents’ expectations, became the financial backbone of his transition into full-time music.
The Gombe-born artiste explained to PERISCOPE NIGERIA that although his childhood ambition was to become an accountant, but he had always known that music was his deeper calling.
According to him, growing up in Northern Nigeria, where parents place a high premium on formal education and securing paid employment, he chose to study accounting partly to honour his parents, who sponsored his education.
“Actually, my childhood dream was to become an accountant. You know our parents, especially in the North, they believe so much in going to school and securing a paid job. So I studied accounting to honour my parents’ desire, since they were responsible for my fees.
“But deep within me, I knew I was born to do music,” he said.
Ibi Dave said rather than abandon either ambition, he pursued both, eventually securing employment with the Nigerian Television Authority as an accountant while developing his music career.
He described the job as a major source of support for his musical journey, explaining that the income enabled him to invest in his passion, sustain his productions and gradually build the ministry to its present level.
He narrated further, “I eventually picked up a job with the Nigerian Television Authority as an Accountant, and that job is what has been sustaining the music to get to where it is today,” he said.
Reflecting on the demands of combining professional responsibilities with his passion for music, the gospel reggae minister said the journey required commitment and the ability to balance two seemingly different career paths.
However, he maintained that his accounting background had not been a wasted investment but an important instrument in financing his calling.
“I don’t have any regrets studying Accounting. To date, I still practise accounting to finance the music ministry, even though I know that in a short while, I intend to go into music full blast,” he added.
The accountant-turn-musician said his eventual transition into full-time music marked another phase of his journey, having relied on his accounting career to provide the financial stability needed to develop his musical calling.
For Ibi Dave, the transition is not a rejection of his academic training or professional experience but a demonstration of how one career can serve as a foundation for another. His experience also reflects the idea of tent-making ministry, in which ministers maintain professional or business engagements to sustain their religious calling, much like Apostle Paul in the Bible.
Speaking on his successes within such a short time in the music industry, the artiste disclosed that he recorded 10 new songs live at a concert in Gombe State, following his international music tours to the United States and the United Kingdom.
The live recording concert, held in October at All Saints Federal Low-Cost, Gombe, he estimated, attracted more than 6,000 attendees, with gospel music artistes and other entertainment personalities joining the performer on stage.
The 10 songs, which formed the centrepiece of the event, included: Push It Up, Zion, Better Days, Pray, Karatu, Jah Grace, Thirsty, Miracles, Brighter Than the Sun and Testify.
Speaking on the significance of the concert with our correspondent, Ibi Dave said the live recording provided an opportunity to reconnect with his home audience while sharing new gospel-inspired compositions.
He said, “This concert is very special to me because it is an opportunity to share the new songs God has given me with the people. Recording these songs live in Gombe makes the experience even more meaningful.”
The event, he highlighted, featured guest performances by Min. Kaestrings, Rev. Silas Yako, Dave Azi, Mumaa Lucee and James Alkali, alongside other emerging gospel artistes.
He noted that the participation of fellow gospel musicians reflected the importance of collaboration and unity in advancing gospel music.
“I am grateful to the artistes who joined me on this journey. Their presence and contributions made the concert memorable. Beyond recording the songs, we wanted to create an atmosphere of worship, fellowship and encouragement,” he said.
The concert, attended my Arewa PUNCH also featured elaborate stage production, sound and lighting arrangements, which contributed to the atmosphere of the live recording.
The artiste, who hails from Filiya in Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State, said, began his musical journey as a child when he joined his church choir.
His international exposure includes a music tour of the United States in April 2017 and subsequent tours of the United Kingdom in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Reflecting on his musical journey, he said, “Music started for me from childhood when I joined the church choir. It has grown from that humble beginning into a ministry that has taken me to different places. I am grateful for every opportunity to use my music to inspire people and spread the gospel.”
Ibi Dave is the lead artiste and owner of No Pranks Music Band International, based in Gombe State. He has received several awards in recognition of his contributions to gospel music.
The music act who also disclosed that he is married to Prisca Ibrahim, who has three children for him, said his honours include: the Exousia Award for Best Reggae and Best Collaboration with Solomon Lange in 2016, Arewa Gospel Mega Awards in 2019, National Gospel Merit Award in 2020, Arewa Gospel Royal Ambassador in 2021 and Africa Gospel Reggae Artist of the Year in 2024.