Meet David Segun Olatunji, a National Diploma holder in Accounting from Igbajo Polytechnic, Osun State, who shared his food with his elder brother in exchange for money to learn Piano. Now a music educator, he has taught over a thousand people how to play music instruments, including the Piano he once could not afford. He also trains vocalists and runs his own school, Champions Music Academy.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Meet David Segun Olatunji, a National Diploma holder in Accounting from Igbajo Polytechnic, Osun State, who shared his food with his elder brother in exchange for money to learn Piano. Now a music educator, he has taught over a thousand people how to play music instruments, including the Piano he once could not afford. He also trains vocalists and runs his own school, Champions Music Academy.
On December 7, 2025, David will host the Champions Concert, where young musicians from around the globe will gather to showcase their skills. The forum will also serve as a platform to identify and train children with no prior music knowledge.
Starting up
David’s journey into music started in 2009 while he was still in JSS 2. It started when his church – Mountain of Fire Ministries – in Abuja bought a Piano and decided to pick one person from each family for sponsorship on how to use the instrument. David’s elder brother was chosen for it and he learned in three months. After the training, he started playing for the church. Because of the passion David had for music, he begged his elder brother to teach him how to play Piano so he could start from there and also be representing him in case he was not around or busy. But his brother refused to teach him for free and asked him to pay money before he could teach him. As a young boy in school, David had nowhere to get money to pay for the training so he offered his food in exchange for money.
“After my brother had learned how to play piano and was always playing in church, one day I walked up to him and asked him to teach me so I could always represent him in case he was not around to play and he asked me to pay him. But then I was just a young boy and was still going to school. I didn’t have any money to give him.
“He said if I didn’t pay, that I won’t take it serious. So, I decided to part with my food since I didn’t have money to pay. When my food was dished, I would divide it into two for him to take half while I took the remaining portion. That was how he taught me,” David told TheNiche in an interview.
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He added; “He would teach me for few minutes and tell me that my food had expired that if I wanted to learn again, I should bring more food. That was how we continued until the moment I understood a particular stage where they play cord. So, I told him I would be the one to play in church that he should not come around the church premises because if they saw him, they won’t want anyone to play again. I gave him money to go and buy anything he wanted to buy but should not come to the church.
“That day was an evening service, so when they asked about my brother, I told them that he didn’t come. They became angry and said why won’t he come when he knew he was the only one that could play. With that they asked if anyone knew how to play piano, I told them that I would try. And when I did, they were like ‘wow, you are good. You will be the one to play on Sunday.’ That was how they gave me open cheque to play on Sunday.
“So, at that time, I didn’t bother again to give my brother money or food because I had got what I wanted. And on the Sunday, I played and they loved it.
“Soon after, the church did a pulpit exchange, and brought in another pastor and he was like wow, ‘you guys have people that play piano’. He said that he needed one at the church he was transferred from because they didn’t have any there adding that he would be paying for the services. He asked one of us to go there. He made us to know that one could still work for God and earn money. Meanwhile, they had not been paying us in the church before now. We were just doing it for fun.”
David said through personal development and consistent training, he learned all about musical instruments and music. “That was how the journey started. I started loving what I do. I started going for programmes to play Piano, sing etc. And at a point I felt I needed to teach others. So, I started teaching people how to play musical instruments, and training them on vocals in schools, and running private classes for children and adults. That was after my National Diploma in 2016. But, while I was in school, I was also doing my music, going to programs to sing and play musical instruments”, he recalled.
In 2017, David travelled from Abuja where he resides with his parents to MFM Prayer City Camp in Lagos for prayers. One day, while doing what he loved to do, which was playing piano and teaching someone how to play it, a man who was watching approached him and told him that he has a Pastor that was looking for a keyboardist in his church in Lagos and asked if he would be interested in being a keyboardist for the church.
“Meanwhile, I was already a keyboardist in a church in Abuja. I just called my parents and told them that I won’t be coming back to Abuja again and the church too. I had come to Lagos with one shirt and a trouser with the hope of returning back, but that offer made me stay back. I combined the church job with teaching in schools and private teachings.
“Early in 2025, I felt the need to have my own place where people could come to train. So, I launched Champion Music Academy. Today, what I started as a free service, has turned out to be a source of income for me,” he said.
Sourcing for capital
David said capital remains a challenge to him even though he had savings from his previous jobs as a teacher but the inconsistent prices of things make it difficult. “But my solution around it is just buying the items I need one after the other. I still teach in schools for more income,” he said.
Warming himself to clients
David said the market is very wide. He said the way people view music is no longer the same so there is a lot of competition but then, he has a niche, to teach and train. “So, there is a market for me. I have been penetrating through social media platforms and word of mouth referrals,” he said.
David said his students have also been in the forefront for him, helping him to reach where he could not have reached in advertising his good jobs. “I just received calls from people I don’t know telling me that one of my students referred him or her to me”, he enthused.
Experience as a music educator
An experience David said he would never forget was when a parent slapped him, accusing him of eating her daughter’s biscuits. “But, later, she discovered that the biscuits she slapped me for were in her daughter’s bag. When she checked and saw them, she apologised but then the deed had already been done. It was because her daughter just told her that she couldn’t find her biscuits and she felt I ate it. When she slapped me, I did not react; I just stood my ground. And when she apologised, I forgave her because she was my client and it’s one of those things children do.”
Breakthrough
David said what encouraged him to push on, firstly, was the day he was given N1000 where he went to play musical instruments for a church. “I was like wow. If I can get this money that means if I continue, I will make more money. That was years ago. In fact, I was so excited that I didn’t want to spend it. I just put it inside my front pocket,” he recalled laughing.
Challenges
His challenges are the way people underrate musicians. “Like when you tell someone that you are into music and they look at you like an unserious person”, he said, adding that pricing is another challenge he faces from his client. “When I tell them my price, they will say I am expensive but they won’t understand that it’s not me, it’s the economy.”
Japa
The brand owner of Champions Music Academy said he has made his research about top entrepreneurs in Nigeria, and found out that 90% of them didn’t travel out before they made it. They all made it here in Nigeria. “So, Nigeria is a starting point and a market place for entrepreneurs. I am staying to establish my brand here. I want to add value to the upcoming generations and people around. If I ever wanted to travel, it would be for vacation,” he said.
About David
David holds a National Diploma in Accounting from Igbajo Polytechnic Osun State. He is a music educator with a stage name, DavCkeys. He is the owner of Champions Music Academy where he trains children from age 3 and adults on music instruments and vocals. He has won awards and recognition on what he loves doing best.
