Tiwa Savage Opens Doors for Next Generation with Music Foundation, Picks 100 Young Talents
By Matthew Eloyi
Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has taken a major step toward shaping the future of Nigeria’s music industry with the launch of the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation, selecting 100 young creatives for a specialised training programme designed to nurture emerging talent.
The foundation was unveiled on Monday night in Lagos at a high-profile event held at The Delborough Lagos, drawing celebrities, government officials and key stakeholders in the creative industry.
Among the notable guests were music executive Don Jazzy, media entrepreneur Mo Abudu, singer-songwriter Johnny Drille and acclaimed producer Cobhams Asuquo. Political and business figures including Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Florence Ita-Giwa, Daisy Danjuma and Shade Okoya also attended the ceremony.
Speaking on the red carpet, Savage explained that the foundation was born out of a desire to close long-standing gaps in education and infrastructure within Nigeria’s booming music industry.
“We have so much talent in Nigeria, but we must build infrastructure and invest in education so that when people see our talent, they also see access,” she said.
The programme will expose participants to multiple aspects of the music ecosystem, including film scoring, music publishing, music therapy, music production and sound engineering.
According to Savage, the selected 100 participants will undergo a four-day intensive training programme organised in partnership with the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the United States.
She emphasised that the opportunity is fully funded and urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of it.
“The opportunity is already paid for. So my advice is to use it wisely because opportunity favours the prepared,” she said.
Savage also noted that the initiative would be an annual programme, encouraging aspiring creatives who were not selected this year to prepare for future editions.
“This is the first of many years. If you don’t get in this year, you will have the chance to prepare for the next editions,” she added.
The singer stressed that collaboration with government remains crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s creative economy.
“In anything you do, you will always need the support and blessing of the government,” she said.
In his remarks, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he attended the event to celebrate Savage and show support for the initiative.
“You know what it is about. Today is her day. She’s one of our best, so I have to support her,” he said.
Pastor Bolaji Idowu also praised the foundation, describing it as a platform that would bring hope and opportunity to aspiring creatives.
“It will bring smiles to people and provide the right strategy for rising in the industry,” he said, while urging society to embrace love, kindness and unity regardless of religious differences.
Singer and producer Johnny Drille described Savage as an outstanding artiste whose influence in the Nigerian music industry has spanned more than a decade.
“Tiwa has been an amazing artiste for over a decade and it is inspiring to see her bring something incredible to the Nigerian music scene,” he said.
Media mogul Mo Abudu, Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife Group, said the initiative would help nurture the next generation of Nigerian music stars.
“I’m really inspired to celebrate with my darling Tiwa Savage tonight. I have known her for years and we have worked on several projects,” she said, encouraging young creatives with the words: “If you can think it, you can do it.”
Also speaking, Folasade Okoya, Chief Executive Officer of Eleganza Group, congratulated Savage and expressed confidence that the foundation would make a lasting impact.
The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation aims to provide education, mentorship and international exposure for young Nigerians seeking careers across different segments of the music industry—an initiative many believe could help strengthen the country’s position as a global hub for music and creative talent.