The Federal Government has been urged to reintroduce music education into school curricula to help unearth and nurture young, untapped musical talents.
This appeal was made by the Director of Music at the Nigerian Air Force, Wing Commander Ayodeji Ayanbode, during the recently concluded 5th Abuja National Music Competition, where he also served as one of the judges.
Ayanbode stressed the importance of government involvement in talent discovery, particularly among schoolchildren, noting that such efforts should not be left solely to individuals and private organizations.
He said, “The government needs to do more to promote music in our schools, it should not be left for individuals and private sector alone. Our being here today is a testament that we value music.
“I commend the organisers of this music competition because they have put in their time, resources and energy to bring out the best in these children. We need more of this kind of competition so that raw talents of school children in music could be discovered.”
Speaking on the origins and mission of the event, the organiser, Mrs Nana Gbolahan, a creative strategist, business leader, and career consultant, explained that the competition was launched to reawaken the culture of music in schools within the Federal Capital Territory.
She noted the alarming decline of music in school curricula, a situation that discourages students aspiring to pursue music professionally.
“The competition is to keep music alive in our schools because it plays a key role in our lives. The National Music Competition was established to bring music back to Abuja.
“We noticed that a lot of schools no longer have music in their curriculum and this often discourage those who intend to go into music. We wanted to ensure that we keep music alive in our schools, especially with the fact that music plays a key role in enhancing the intelligence of students.
“Music plays a big role in calming nerves and it’s a unifying factor regardless of tribe or tongues and we just feel this is a fantastic way to unify us as Nigerians and encourage those who are into music. Music is important in our schools and we call on the government to bring music back to our schools.
“Government is aware because last year when we did the 4th edition, we had people from the Ministry of Education who came and in this year’s edition, we wrote to them, unfortunately, they were unable to come. I think they have another event somewhere else,” Gbolahan said.
She also called on the corporate sector to collaborate with the organisers in discovering and promoting music talents among school-aged children.
Now in its fifth year, the Abuja National Music Competition continues to champion the preservation of Nigerian musical heritage by showcasing outstanding vocalists and instrumentalists from primary and secondary schools nationwide. With the 2025 theme, ‘Take the Stage’, the event underscores the role of healthy competition in sparking creativity.
Participants receive professional mentorship, perform before a distinguished panel of music experts, and are recognized for their excellence—reinforcing the competition’s commitment to advancing music education and appreciation throughout Nigeria.
