Students Showcase Hidden Talents in Music, Dance at MADE Concert

About 85 Secondary school students from different public school is Lagos recently showcased their talents at the Music, Art, Dance and Empowerment (M.A.D.E) concert, an initiative of H2: 14 global missions held at the J.F Ade Ajayi auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG). Some excited students admitted after the event that through the project they have realised that they could achieve their dreams in life.

At the event which was not a competitive one, the participants displayed their talents at the concert through solo performance, group dance performance, a band performance playing original music, and an orchestra performance. They were rewarded with scholarship awards to specialised schools to hone their skills.

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Founder, H2: 14 Global Missions, Dotun Arifalo, disclosed that his decision to launch the project was to empower public secondary school students with leadership and soft skills needed to succeed in life.

Worried by increased vices like drug abuse, school dropout, armed robbery and prostitution among youths, especially school children, therefore he decided to make a positive impact on them.

Arifalo unveiled the M.A.D.E initiative, using unconventional extra-curricular education to develop a well-rounded child-physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.

In an interview on the sideline of the event, Arifalo said his concern for the future of the next generation of leaders prompted him to launch the initiative.

He noted that the initiative is to empower tomorrow’s leaders today, adding, “we want to be able to create a national and global transformation by investing in the future.”

Arifalo added that the children would undergo a one-year internship programme, where they would be taken through an empowerment process, while plans are on to woo more kids. He said they are targeting one million children in the next few years and sought collaboration with the government, groups and individuals passionate about empowering the Nigerian child.

The project manager, Ayomide Olofinjana, who expressed delight at the success recorded with the children, said they started with less than 20 pupils, but with determination, they have been able to come this far.

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Olofinjana said to change the narrative of the country, attention must be on tomorrow’s leaders, to invest in the next generation so they can become future leaders.

On the choice of music instead of science, Olofinjana noted that music is a connector and an attraction to the pupils, and it helps people express themselves. He stated that it also helps to raise teenagers and develop them mentally, physically and emotionally.

Sharing their experience, 13-year-old Ugwu Kelvin, a Junior Secondary 2 student said though the project, he has been able to discover his talent. Oluchi Chukwudi also said the project has made her strong emotionally, mentally and physically.

They pleaded that the project should continue to enable others to benefit.