The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation has awarded scholarships worth $2.1 million to 18 Nigerian students, providing them with fully funded undergraduate places at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The announcement came at the conclusion of a five-day intensive music program held from April 22 to 26, 2026, which brought together 120 emerging artists, songwriters, producers, and music professionals for world-class training on home soil.
Program Overview
The program, designed as a bridge between Africa's thriving music economy and global education standards, offered hands-on learning in live performance, songwriting, music production, and the business of music. Participants engaged directly with Berklee's distinguished faculty through workshops, collaborative sessions, and mentorship, gaining technical skills and critical industry insight.
The intensive culminated in a landmark Grand Finale Concert and Award Ceremony at the National Theatre, hosted by Darey Art Alade and Kie Kie. During the event, participants presented original works developed during the program. The live concert featured band-backed performances across Afrobeats, R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Jazz, and fusion, with ensembles led by Berklee faculty performing works by Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Masego, Ayra Starr, and Ne-Yo, alongside original compositions. Guest performances by Loud Choir and Teni the Entertainer highlighted the depth and diversity of Nigeria's next generation of music talent.
Tiwa Savage's Remarks
Speaking on the successful completion of the program, Tiwa Savage 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. 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."
Berklee Faculty Involvement
Berklee faculty members who led the program included Dennis Montgomery (Academic Director, Professor of Ensembles), Yoron Israel (Chair of Percussion), Tyrone Chase (Assistant Chair of Ensembles), Nichelle Mungo (Associate Professor of Voice), Anthony Nembhard (Assistant Professor of Ensembles), and Jason Camelio (Program Director and Assistant Vice President of Global Programs and Partnerships), who oversees Berklee's global initiatives.
Reflecting on the initiative, one faculty member noted: "It was such a pleasure to review the results of our Berklee auditions and interviews at the inaugural Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program. Having known Tiwa since she enrolled at Berklee, it was clear to us then that she was on a path to success in the music industry, and it is particularly inspiring that she has leveraged her success to give back to her community here in Nigeria in such a meaningful and special way."
Scholarships and Recognition
Beyond performance, the program emphasized collaboration, creative exploration, and long-term career development. Select participants were recognized during the closing ceremony with scholarship opportunities and continued pathways into Berklee's global programs, reinforcing the initiative's commitment to sustained growth beyond the classroom.
The finale showcase welcomed an audience of over 1,000 attendees, including members of the U.S. Consulate, industry executives, cultural leaders, media, government representatives, and music enthusiasts, among them Yeni Kuti, daughter of the legendary Fela Kuti. The evening opened with remarks from Foluso Phillips, Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria and a sitting Board of Trustees member of the foundation, and closed with a scholarship awards presentation in which 18 students were awarded fully funded undergraduate places at Berklee College of Music in Boston, representing over $2 million in scholarships. Graduation certificates were presented to all 120 participants. The event was positioned as both a cultural milestone and a high-impact platform for emerging talent, underscoring that the program's impact extends far beyond the classroom.
Historic First for Berklee in Africa
The inaugural edition of Berklee in Nigeria represents a historic first for the institution on the African continent and underscores the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation's broader mission to expand access to structured, world-class music education. By bringing this level of training directly to Nigeria, the initiative removes barriers to entry and creates new pathways for African creatives to compete, collaborate, and lead on a global stage.
