Tiwa Savage Launches Foundation with Berklee College to Train Nigerian Music Creators
Award-winning Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has officially launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation in a groundbreaking partnership with the prestigious Berklee College of Music. This initiative marks a significant expansion of access to world-class music education in Nigeria, with the foundation's first major program bringing Berklee faculty members to Lagos for an intensive training session.
Historic Berklee Program Comes to West Africa
For the first time in West Africa, the renowned Berklee College of Music will establish a presence in Lagos through Tiwa Savage's new foundation. The program, tagged Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, will run from April 23 to 26, 2026, and will train 100 emerging Nigerian music creators with all costs fully covered by the foundation.
Recognizing that annual tuition for top international music schools can reach $60,000 (over N90 million), Tiwa Savage is personally covering all expenses to remove financial barriers for Nigerian creatives. This four-day intensive program represents the first Berklee event ever held in West Africa, signaling a major investment in Nigeria's entertainment industry infrastructure.
Comprehensive Curriculum Beyond Performance
The intensive program will combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, covering essential aspects of the music industry beyond just performance. Participants will receive training in music production, songwriting, sound engineering, harmony, ear training, publishing, copyright, and elements of entertainment law.
"That experience changed how I saw music. Talent alone isn't enough. Structure, education, and exposure are what allow creatives to compete globally," Savage explained in an interview with CNN, referencing her own transformative scholarship experience at Berklee in Boston, Massachusetts.
The singer emphasized that the program's goal extends beyond training vocalists to building the entire music value chain, including producers, composers, engineers, and business professionals. "You can be the most talented artist in the world, but without the people who create, capture, protect, and monetise music, there is no industry," she stated.
Pathway to Further Opportunities
The program will conclude with live ensemble performances showcasing participants' newly acquired skills. Outstanding performers may be considered for future scholarships to Berklee's Boston campus or online courses, creating a potential pathway for continued international education.
Tiwa Savage's personal connection to Berklee College of Music adds depth to this initiative. As a young artist, she received a scholarship to study at Berklee in Boston, an opportunity she credits with transforming her understanding of music beyond mere performance. This foundation represents her commitment to paying forward the educational access that helped shape her career.
The Tiwa Savage Music Foundation partnership with Berklee College of Music represents a significant milestone in Nigeria's entertainment education landscape, providing structured, world-class training to emerging creatives while removing financial barriers that have traditionally limited access to such opportunities.
