"Foreigners Have Special Interest in our Arts and music,"

CURSORY : The Lagos City Choral has made an appeal for funding and support towards music education in public schools throughout the nation.

During the 35th Lagos City Choral Christmas party, which took place at the Muson, Sir Emeka Nwokedi, the director of Lagos City Choral, expressed his disapproval of the state of music education in Nigeria, citing the absence of music instruction in public schools.

He said, ”From the point of view of a musician, I will say the state of Music Education in Nigeria is appalling. I have gone to schools and I found out that there’s no serious music in our schools.

”There’s no music education in public schools. Private schools invest money in music. When the government entrenches music in the curriculum in schools, our country will be better for it,” he added,

He bemoaned the fact that the choral had won multiple awards for the nation but had not received support from the government.

“I feel elated about the turnout today. But the government has not helped us at all. This choir has traveled around the world. We only got support from private people, yet we have won laurels on behalf of Nigeria.

”We expect the government to support arts and music. Whenever we go outside, the foreigners have a special interest in our arts and music. The government should support and encourage arts.”

Chairman of the 35th Anniversary Committee of the Lagos City Choral, Chukwuka Eluchie, said, “If the Choral was given needed support, it would be easier to help improve the skills of Nigerians interested in music.“

”If the support is there, we will become the flagship of professional choral music. The support is necessary to move us to a higher level. A lot of attention is not given to music education in the country.”