Sultan, Ego join Bobo for school music competition

A music competition organised by Bobo Food and Beverages Ltd reward schools with various prizes, Akeem Lasisi writes

Under the watchful eyes of three celebrated artistes, selected pupils of from primary schools  in Lagos showcased their musical talent on Friday. At the Bobo Kids With Voices competition, the young talents demonstrated part of the artistic heritage that has shot Nigerian music up the global stage.

To demonstrate the importance of the project  and commitment to harnessing the kids’ potentialities, the organisers, Bobo Food and Beverages Limited, had appointed Sound Sultan, Ego and Paul Dairo as the judges. It was thus an added honour for the pupils to perform before the three, who also encouraged them with various comments.

Among the schools that participated at the event ,held at the Regency Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, were Christal Nursery and Primary School, Goldspring Foundation, Seatos Private School, Ono-Sharon, Olufunwa, Kiddies Quest, Novena, Providence Schools, Local Authority Primary School and Akinslaw Nursey Primary School.

The participants performed songs based on the theme, Nigeria of my Dream. The event, however, featured an exhibition of beautiful costumes, choreography and display of self confidence as the pupils tried to outdo one another in these areas.

While the judges variously commended them in terms of the level of confidence displayed, quality of songs and costuming, they did not fail to remind some of the kid acts and their teachers of the need to make their productions tight in the future. Sultan also advised one of the groups to learn to make their lyrics simple as, according to him, verbosity does not determine the success of a work of art.

At the end of the day, Illyad Islamic School, Isheri-Oke went home with the first prize, a school bus. The second prize went to Local Authority Primary School, Mowo/Agemowo, Badagry; while Goldsprings Foundation School, Ogba came third. The runners-up received musical instruments.

At the show, which also featured guest dancers and a comic strip by Baba Ajasco Family, officials of the Lagos State Government and Bobo Foods spoke on the need to invest in the development of young talents. According to the company’s Marketing Manager, Birhiray Ewhubare, it recognises the fact that though education is very important, it is not limited to academic development alone.

He said, “After a careful study of the challenges facing children development, especially in the areas of appreciation and expression of the inbuilt talents, our company has designed a talent-discovery and empowerment programme – Bobo Kids with Voices. The competition is targeted at encouraging musical talent in primary school pupils in Lagos State. The programme has been touted as an impactful activation which brings out the innate musical skills in primary school pupils.”

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Education, Chief Fatai Olukoga and a director that represented the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, commended the organisers for the project.