Shosanya Babatunde Oluwaseyi, music expert and president, Fellowship of Organists, and current Head of Music, Greenoak lnternational School, Lagos, has boasted that music education has a lot of potentials to make Nigeria great.
The former Head of Music, British International School, Lekki, Lagos, who is passionate about the development of music education in Nigeria, revealed that the country stands to benefit from a sound music education system as it will make Nigeria great, especially if the opportunity is well seized, by young Nigerians.
“The Nigerian child must be encouraged to exhibit their talent even as they pursue academics. Music plays a significant role and is essential for our students. It should be available to all students in our public schools. According to Plato, music is a useful instrument for education because more than anything else, rhythm and harmony find their way into the innermost soul and take strongest hold upon it.
“Music education has disappeared in our public schools due to some stringent policies by the government. I want to appeal to the Lagos State government through the Commissioner of Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, that music education is essential and it should be repositioned and made available to all students in our public schools. The government should rethink through the Ministry of Education and commit and invest more funds and bring back music to our classrooms. Music education is an important aspect of children’s education that must not be neglected by any government,” he added.
He said, “Importance of music to any country cannot be undermined. Research has shown music education improves student academic success, listening skills, self-esteem, creativity, relieves stress, and instrument playing shapes the future of kids. The government should engage music educators to review our curriculum to focus on Nigeria popular music and traditional folk music.
“Former president, United States of America, Bill Clinton, once said ‘music is about communication, creativity and cooperation and by studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives and experience the world from a new perspective,” he said.
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