The Agip Recital Hall, MUSON centre, venue for this year’s 8th Graduation Ceremony of the MTN Foundation/MUSON Music Scholars Programme was filled to capacity with enthusiastic guests made up of music lovers, friends and relatives of the graduating students as the MTNF Awardees bowed out of the two-year Diploma programme.
The ceremony started with the MTNF/MUSON Scholars appreciation concert where the graduands exhibited their mastery of musical instruments and vocal renditions. Guests at the event got excited as the graduands played some contemporary Nigerian tunes with their classical musical instruments.
The 21 scholars, who earned Diploma in Music are the eighth set of beneficiaries of the MTN Foundation’s music scholarship programme.
The highpoint of the musical concert was the special appearances from MTN’s Brand ambassadors, Cobhams and Sound Sultan who displayed their dexterity in the art of singing and playing the instrumentals.
Director, MTN Foundation, Dennis Okoro, in his speech commended the graduands for living up to the values of the MTN Foundation. He stated that such qualities as diligence and dedication coupled with their determination has made them successful on the programme.
“So far, the MTN Foundation has invested over N200 million in the MTNF-MUSON Music Scholars Programme. In the past nine years, the programme has produced 212 music scholars who have received exposure to the highest standards of composing and production of world class music. This is with the inclusion of the 21 Music Scholars that graduated in this 8th Graduation Ceremony,” Okoro said.
Speaking further on the impact of the programme, Okoro informed that “recently, some of our awardees got opportunities to compete with the rest of the world in Italy and Spain. A lot of them are being sought locally and internationally and they are doing very well, making their mark across the world.”
Presenting the best three graduating students who had lived up to the standards of the MTN Foundation values of leadership, excellence, creativity and integrity, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation counselled the winners to ensure they maintain those qualities that made them distinct. The winners were: Oladimeji Adelaja; Olusegun Alphonso and Olusola Olufa. The graduands expressed their appreciation to MTN Foundation by rendering a special song titled “everywhere you go.”
The Guest Speaker, Yemi Akinsanya, while commending the MTN Foundation for championing the Music Scholars programme expressed his assurances that the graduands will be good ambassadors of MTNF as they go ahead in their pursuit of excellence.
The MTNF/MUSON Music Scholarship Programme was instituted to provide students with talent in music but less privileged, an opportunity to acquire qualitative music education. The scholarship covers tuition, books and daily stipends.
