By Peter Oyedele

ABUJA — The Director of Music, Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Oludare Ayanbode, has called on the Federal Government to invest more in the creative and arts industry, saying the sector holds enormous potential for economic growth and youth development.

Ayanbode made the call at the 8th edition of the Abuja National Music Competition (ANMC), where he served as one of the judges.

He said greater government support was needed to discover and nurture young musical talents, particularly through improved music education in schools.

According to him, the increasing participation of schools in this year’s competition reflects growing interest in music education and talent development among young Nigerians.

“This year’s edition attracted many schools, which shows that more institutions are encouraging the teaching of music. As a result, many young talents have been inspired to embrace music as an art and a career path,” he said.

Ayanbode described music as a discipline that enhances cognitive abilities, improves memory and contributes to overall academic development.

“There is room for improvement on the part of government when it comes to discovering and nurturing raw talents. I would not say the government has not done enough, but it can certainly do more.

“There should be greater emphasis on music education in both public and private schools. The curriculum should be strengthened to encourage talent development, which will ultimately support students in their academic pursuits and future careers,” he added.

The Air Force music director also commended participants at the competition for their discipline, creativity and level of preparation.

“Most of the contestants came well prepared. It was not easy making decisions because the performances were impressive. We are particularly happy with the high level of discipline and creativity displayed by the participants,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of Abba Music School and organiser of the competition, Dr. Nana Gbolahan, said the initiative was aimed at promoting music culture and music education among young people in the Federal Capital Territory.

She noted that the competition provides a platform for students to showcase their talents, interact with peers who share similar interests and develop their musical abilities.

“Music is the language of the soul, and all of us here are part of that language. The motivation for organising this competition is to continue promoting music, especially in Abuja.

“In places like Lagos, music is already well appreciated, but Abuja is gradually catching up. The situation today is much better than it was in the past,” she said.

According to her, more schools participated in this year’s edition due to increased awareness and interest in music education.

“We have more schools this year because many expressed interest in joining after we approached them. Schools are now more willing to expose their students to music, and we hope the competition continues to grow,” she added.

The Abuja National Music Competition is open to primary and secondary school students across the FCT and is designed to promote music education, celebrate talent, encourage discipline through the arts and stimulate discussions on the role of music in Nigeria’s educational system.

Other judges at the competition included Prof. Adebowale Adeogun, Mr. Adebayo Omole and Malam Razphil.

Participating schools included Benford International School, Meadowlands School, Regent International School, Premier Academy and Spiritan International Girls Secondary School.