Eighteen emerging Nigerian music talents have secured fully funded scholarships worth over $2 million to study at the Berklee College of Music in the United States, following a training programme organised by the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation.
Gatekeepers News reports that the beneficiaries—comprising singers, songwriters, producers, and other music professionals—were unveiled at a grand finale concert held at the National Theatre Lagos.
The programme, which ran from April 22 to 26, 2026, brought together 120 participants for a four-day intensive training designed in collaboration with Berklee. The initiative aimed to bridge Africa’s fast-growing music industry with global education standards.
Participants received hands-on training in live performance, songwriting, music production, and the business of music, working closely with Berklee faculty through workshops, mentorship, and collaborative sessions.
The Berklee team included Dennis Montgomery, Yoron Israel, Tyrone Chase, Nichelle Mungo, Anthony Nembhard, and Jason Camelio, who facilitated the sessions.
The grand finale concert, hosted by Darey Art Alade and Kie Kie, featured performances of original compositions developed during the programme. Attendees were treated to live renditions spanning Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, jazz, and fusion.
Highlights of the night included performances of Killing Me Softly with His Song, classics by Stevie Wonder, Bloody Samaritan by Ayra Starr, and Papaoutai by Stromae. The event also featured guest appearances by Teni and Loud Choir.
Speaking at the event, Tiwa Savage described the moment as emotional and reaffirmed her foundation’s mission to expand access to world-class music education in Nigeria.
“Seeing these young musicians take the stage at the National Theatre was a deeply emotional and proud moment for me,” she said.
“When we started the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, the goal was to bring the world’s highest standards of music education home to Nigeria, and seeing 18 of our students receive life-changing scholarships to Berklee in Boston is proof that our talent is truly global. This is only the beginning of our mission to ensure that African creatives have the tools, the structure, and the platform to lead the world stage.”
Also speaking, Damien Bracken, Dean of Admissions at Berklee, said the programme focused on collaboration, creativity, and long-term career development for participants.
Other notable personalities present at the event included Yeni Kuti, Timi Dakolo, Nancy Isime, Waje, Eku Edewor, among others.
