Worried by the dearth in professional training in the gospel music genre, Nigeria’s leading music institute, Tenstrings has unveiled a new campus and the first ever gospel music academy in the county.

The music school during the unveiling  reiterated its belief that skills are best caught than taught and that environment for students to constantly practice their skills as opposed to theoretical learning must be provided.
 
The institute also appointed Nigeria’s gospel disc jockey, DJ Gosporella as Head of Faculty.
 
The founder, Tenstrings, Emmanuel Akapo, said that Nigeria’s entertainment industry, if properly harnessed through trainings and empowerment would be the country’s greatest asset.

He said that the institution’s membership with the International society for Music Education (ISME), would help students achieve world standard practice.

“We are in a place where skills are being displayed and showcased and the tendency to catch the skill is greater.

“We are preparing our students for the global stage. Our vision is to produce successful musicians and music professionals who would continue to grow and remain relevant.”
   
Akapo listed some talents who had passed through the institute to include; Dapo Tuburna, Minjin, Judikay, Eva Aloridah, Dj Lambo and others. 
   
He lamented inadequate funding as a major challenge the institute is face with. 

He explained that they are under recruited as they accept just about 25 per cent of people who show interest because they can’t afford the tuition fee.

“We have never gotten a penny from anywhere in terms of grants. Local or state governments have not given us a dime at any point in time.

So all the growth you see we have made these fifteen years have been organic. I have learnt that as important as money is, passion is what it takes to keep a dream alive”, he said.
Akapo stated that the new gospel music academy was birthed as a result of derth in professional training in the genre. 

“The goal at inception in 2007 was closing the gap between what is being taught in music schools and what the student wants to be. Prior to that time, what was obtainable in Music schools was the teaching of classical music when our musicians wanted to be afro-beats artistes, gospel, hip-hop, rhythm and blues etc. So after teaching in over 20 music schools across the world, I felt it was about time to give it a trial.”

The academy, which currently has five centers, offer diploma, certificate and crash courses programmes.