Tiwa Savage Launches Music Foundation to Train 100 Nigerian Creators with Berklee College
Award-winning Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has launched the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation in partnership with the Berklee College of Music, bringing world-class music education to Nigeria for the first time in West Africa.
The foundation’s first initiative, Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program, will take place in Lagos from April 23 to 26, 2026. The four-day program will train 100 emerging Nigerian music creators, with all tuition and costs fully covered by the foundation.
Savage, who studied at Berklee in Boston, Massachusetts as a young artist, shared that her scholarship experience transformed her understanding of music. “Talent alone isn’t enough. Structure, education, and exposure are what allow creatives to compete globally,” she said in an interview with CNN.
The intensive program will combine theory and practical training, covering music production, songwriting, sound engineering, harmony, ear training, publishing, copyright, and entertainment law. Savage emphasized that the program aims to strengthen the entire music value chain — from artists to producers, engineers, composers, and business professionals.
Participants will conclude the program with live ensemble performances, and outstanding performers may be considered for scholarships to Berklee’s Boston campus or online courses. The initiative removes the barrier of expensive tuition at top international music schools, which can range from $40,000 to $60,000 annually (over N90 million).
Savage explained that the program is about more than producing singers; it’s about building a sustainable Nigerian music industry. “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 said.
Her foundation reflects her commitment to giving back to Nigerian creatives and supporting access to education that can open international opportunities, just as she benefited early in her career.
