Eighteen young Nigerians have secured more than $2.1 million in scholarships to study at Berklee College of Music in the United States, following the conclusion of the inaugural Berklee in Nigeria program organized by the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation. The scholarships were announced at the Grand Finale Concert and Graduation Ceremony held at the National Theatre in Lagos, drawing over 1,000 attendees.
Program Details
The five-day intensive program, organized by the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation in partnership with Berklee, ran from April 22 to 26 and marked the institution's first on-the-ground engagement in Nigeria and the wider West African region. A total of 120 emerging Nigerian singers, songwriters, producers, and music professionals were selected from a record 2,100 applicants to participate in the initiative, which combined lectures, workshops, rehearsals, mentorship sessions, and one-on-one scholarship interviews.
Scholarship Awards
Speaking at the event, Berklee's Dean of Admissions, Damien Bracken, stated that 27 participants were shortlisted after a rigorous audition and interview process, with the top 18 receiving full undergraduate scholarships to study in Boston next year. He said, "We auditioned and interviewed a total of 27 highly skilled musicians, and today we will award in excess of $2.1 million in merit scholarships to assist these candidates to enroll at Berklee in Boston next year successfully."
Leadership and Training
The program, spearheaded by award-winning singer Tiwa Savage, a Berklee alumna, was designed to bridge Africa's music industry with global education standards. Serving as artistic adviser, Savage worked with Berklee Global and its "Berklee on the Road" platform to deliver training within Nigeria's creative ecosystem. Training sessions were held at the MUSON Centre School of Music, where participants received daily instruction spanning live performance, songwriting, music production, stagecraft, and the business of music.
Participants also engaged directly with Berklee faculty, including Dennis Montgomery, Yoron Israel, Tyrone Chase, Nichelle Mungo, Anthony Nembhard, and Jason Camelio, exploring diverse genres such as Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, jazz, and fusion.
Finale and Performances
The finale featured performances by program participants, who showcased original compositions developed during the training, alongside renditions inspired by global music icons like Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis, as well as contemporary influences including Ayra Starr and Ne-Yo. Guest performances by the Loud Urban Choir and singer Teni added to the atmosphere, underscoring the depth of emerging Nigerian talent. All 120 participants were presented with graduation certificates at the ceremony.
Tiwa Savage's Remarks
In her remarks, Savage described the initiative as both emotional and symbolic of a broader mission to elevate African creatives. She said, "Seeing these young musicians take the stage at the National Theatre was a deeply emotional and proud moment for me. 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." She added that the program represents the beginning of efforts to equip African creatives with the skills and platforms needed to compete globally.
