Students showcase talent in music, dance at concert

By Iyabo Lawal

About 85 secondary school pupils drawn from public schools in Lagos State recently showcased their talents at the Music, Art, Dance and Empowerment (M.A.D.E) concert, an initiative of H2: 14 global missions.

At the end of the event held at the J.F Ade Ajayi auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG), the elated students said through the project, they have realised that they could achieve their dreams in life.

The participants displayed their talents at the concert through solo performance, group dance performance, a band performance playing original music, and an orchestra performance.

Though not a competitive event, some of the participants were rewarded with scholarship awards to specialised schools to hone their skills.

Founder, H2: 14 Global Missions, Dotun Arifalo, disclosed that her 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 among youths, especially school children, 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 her concern for the future of the next generation of leaders prompted her to launch the initiative.

“I think it was my concern for the next generation, especially for kids in public secondary schools, that made me launch the initiative. With the vices in our society and the things going on right now, you wonder whether the youths, especially those in secondary schools, have hope.

We talk about the society filled with drug addicts, drop outs and all kinds of people, but who is doing something about it? And we have most of the age bracket, the next generation in public schools and not in the private sector.

Like 70 per cent of that age bracket are in public secondary schools and they are the ones who come out to become armed robbers, prostitutes, and the like, so we thought it is either we just watch, fold our arms and talk about what is going on, or we can make a change.

“Can we make a positive impact? Can we find a hero inside of them? Can we go to them with what they want and use that means to raise them? To give them values and character in the spirit, soul and body to change their mindset and give them a vision.”

She 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.

She 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.

Olofinjana said to change the narrative of the country, attention must be on tomorrow’s leaders.

He said: “The best way to change the narrative of Nigeria right now is to invest in the next generation, so that when they grow up and become future leaders, they will do better than we have done.
On the choice of music instead of science, Olofinjana noted that music is a connector and an attraction to the pupils.

He said: “Music is a language, it is a means of expression, and helps people express themselves, which most teenagers have not been able to do. It helps us to achieve our goal, which is to raise a wholesome teenager, so it helps in development-mentally, physically and emotionally. The children have learnt a lot, they have gone through transformation and have shown dedication, strength, tenacity and discipline.”

Sharing his experience, 13-year-old Ugwu Kelvin, a Junior Secondary 2 student said though the project, he has been able to discover his talent.

Similarly, Oluchi Chukwudi said the project has made her strong emotionally, mentally and physically.
They pleaded that the project should continue to enable others to benefit.