The collaboration was unveiled during the foundation’s official launch on March 9, 2025, at The Delborough Lagos. The event brought together influential figures from government, entertainment, and business, underscoring growing institutional support for Africa’s creative industries.
Founded by award-winning Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage, the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation seeks to provide opportunities for emerging artists through music education, mentorship, and access to professional resources. The initiative takes a broad approach to industry development by supporting not only performers but also producers, composers, sound engineers, and music business professionals—acknowledging the need for a strong ecosystem to sustain Africa’s expanding music sector.
The launch event attracted several high-profile guests, including Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, who delivered the closing remarks. Other notable attendees included Layal Tinubu, co-founder of the Noella Foundation; Stanley Uzochukwu, chairman of The Delborough Lagos; veteran politician Florence Ita Giwa; media entrepreneur Mo Abudu; and executives from Mavin Records, including Don Jazzy and Tega Oghenejobo. Representatives from the United States Consulate General Lagos were also present.
Speaking during the event, Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, founder and CEO of Flutterwave, highlighted the alignment between the company’s vision and the foundation’s mission.
“At Flutterwave, our dream has always been to connect Africa to the world and the world to Africa. Tiwa’s dream is to take Nigerian and African creative talent global. These are not two separate dreams; they are the same dream,” he said.
Agboola shared the stage with Tiwa Savage, Governor Sanwo-Olu, Vanessa Amadi-Ogbonna—Savage’s manager and a trustee of the foundation—and Jason Carmelio, Assistant Vice President of Global Partnerships and Programmes at Berklee College of Music.
As part of the partnership, Flutterwave will provide financial support to help fund the foundation’s programmes and long-term initiatives. The company said the collaboration reflects its broader commitment to empowering African communities beyond payment infrastructure.
The involvement of Berklee College of Music—one of the world’s most prestigious music institutions—signals the foundation’s ambition to create structured pathways for African talent into global music education and industry networks. Planned initiatives include scholarship opportunities for students to study at Berklee’s campus in Boston and the long-term goal of establishing a permanent music school in Nigeria.
Savage expressed appreciation for the support from Flutterwave and other partners, noting that the continent’s artists have long needed stronger systems of support.
“Africa has always had the talent,” she said. “What our artists have needed is the infrastructure, the access, and the belief. With partners like Flutterwave standing behind us, we are building all three.”
The launch of the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation signals a broader effort to strengthen Africa’s creative economy by investing in the next generation of artists and industry professionals, reinforcing the role of culture and innovation in the continent’s future growth.