Some of the scholars
In
a clime where hip hop is suppressing other genres, it takes a strong
breed to stick to the development of what many will define as original
music. That is what the MTN/MUSON Music Scholars programme has done in
the past nine years.
Despite the overwhelming influence of
hip hop, one still encounters many young artistes dishing out classical
and other forms of profound music, while many are also scattered across
schools, teaching music to future maestros. Followers of music
development in Nigeria in recent years know that a good number of such
professional musicians are graduates of the scholars programme domiciled
at the Onikan abode of the MUSON Centre.
That
is why each time the school is churning out its graduates, many
stakeholders are always excited. Particularly, the management of the
foundation and MUSON are often eager to look back and measure the gains
of the partnership.
This was again the situation recently
when the programme graduated another set of 21 talents amidst fanfare.
With stars that included Cobhams and Sound Sultan also mounting the
stage to perform, it was obvious that the organisers were mindful of
mating their scholars with artistes that many people associate with
quality music.
At the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON
Centre, venue of the graduation fiesta, the graduands gave a good
account of themselves and the project that the MTN Foundation has,
according to its Director, Dennis Okoro, invested N200m since inception.
The young stars particularly tickled many members of the audience when
they played some contemporary Nigerian tunes with their classical
musical instruments.
It was an elated Okoro that commended
the graduands for, according to him, living up to the values of the
foundation. He stated that such qualities as diligence and dedication,
coupled with their determination, had made the difference in their
careers.
Okoro said, “So far, the MTN Foundation
has invested over N200m in the MTNF-MUSON Music Scholars Programme. In
the past nine years, the programme has produced 212 music scholars who
have received exposure to the highest standards of composition and
production of world-class music. A lot of them are being sought locally
and internationally and they are doing very well, making their marks
across the world.
“It is interesting to note from the
yearly performances, our awardees have continuously shown their accrued
skills and appreciation for the support of the MTN Foundation on the
programme. We have witnessed the steady growth of the students who are
largely from the middle and lower classes in the society, while very
few of them are from the upper class.
“The scholarship is open to all
Nigerians, although we are particular about students who are talented in
music but do not have money to pay for lessons. It is a two-year
programme that has consistently turned out young people who are ready to
be different in what they do.”
Okoro said the earlier perception that
those studying music were not serious was due to ignorance by many
parents. Unfortunately, due to this ignorance, he said, many young
people were losing a lot because they were not active in the arts.
According to him, arts and music are the two creative elements in the
school curriculum.
He said, “A musician creates music. An
artist creates, too. Also, students who can combine arts and music are
able to use parts of the brain that others do not use, because those
parts are highly logical.”
While the Executive Secretary of the MTN
Foundation, Miss. Nonny Ugboma, presented awards to the best candidates
– Oladimeji Adelaja, Olusegun Alphonso and Olusola Olufa — the Guest
Speaker, Mr. Yemi Akinsanya, commended MUSON and the foundation for
breeding the music apostles.
