Desmond Elliot, Others for Concert Showcasing Talents of Public School Pupils

Nollywood actor-turned-lawmaker, Desmond Elliot, is among dignitaries expected to watch some 85 secondary school pupils showcase their talent at the Next Hero concert holding on Saturday at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Main Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Elliot will join Fuad Kayode Laguda, the All Progressive Congress (APC) aspirant for Surulere Federal Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives, and Suleiman Bamidele Yusuf, Chairman, Surulere Local Government area to watch the pupils, drawn from public secondary schools across Surulere Local Government area perform different types of music.

The participants were trained for one year under the Music, Art, Dance and Empowerment (M.A.D.E) initiative of H2:14 Global Missions.

The concert will feature solo, group dance and band performances, playing original music, and an orchestra performance.

Though not a competitive event, outstanding participants would be rewarded with scholarship awards to specialised schools to hone their skills.

A statement by the organisers, led by Dotun Arifalo, noted that the project was aimed at equipping the pupils with leadership and life skills through arts.

“M.A.D.E seeks to use unconventional extra-curricula education to develop the wholesome child – physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Ultimately, the aim of the project is to empower one million public school pupils through the arts by 2030 starting from this edition.

In addition to talent development, the pupils are exposed to mentoring, guidance and counselling, community service and accountability, among others.

Arifalo called on organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support the vision through sponsorship.

Other members of the project team are Dr. Ayomide Olofinjana; Fisayo Adesina and Jesutofunmi Makinde.

November 23, 2023