DT-Lighthouse Creative Academy has called for the introduction of creative education into the country’s school curriculum, stating that nurturing creative talents from a young age will not only empower youths but also significantly contribute to economic growth.

Founder, DT-Lighthouse Creative Academy, Opeyemi Akintunde, said this during a recent interview, saying: “Creative education is not just about helping children find their talents — it’s about preparing them for the global creative economy, which is worth billions of dollars.

“If Nigeria wants to reduce unemployment and grow its economy, we must start training young people in creative skills right from primary and secondary school.”

According to her, Nigeria has a wealth of untapped creative talents, but the absence of structured creative education in schools prevents many children from discovering and developing their potential early. This, she said, affects their career choices and limits the country’s ability to compete globally in the creative space.

“Countries like the UK, US, and South Korea invest heavily in creative education because they know that music, film, animation, design, and digital content contribute massively to their economies.

“Nollywood alone contributes billions to Nigeria’s GDP — imagine how much more we could achieve if creative education was properly embedded into our schools.”

Akintunde, who has trained over 3,000 children and teenagers in creative arts through her academy, said her students have gone on to become young filmmakers, content creators, scriptwriters, and social media entrepreneurs.

“Some even earn money from their skills before leaving secondary school. Creativity is no longer just a hobby — it’s a career path and a global business.”

“With platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Netflix, young people can turn their skills into income, but they need proper training and guidance to do it ethically and professionally.”

She also emphasised that creative education is not limited to entertainment. It covers areas such as advertising, animation, photography, creative writing, and digital storytelling — all of which are vital to today’s digital economy.

“We always say that Nigerian youths are talented, but talent alone is not enough. Talent must be refined through education, and schools are the best place to start.” She, therefore, urged the Federal Ministry of Education to revise the national curriculum to make creative education a core subject, like mathematics and science.