From a Day of Music to a Lifetime of Opportunity.
Making music accessible. Developing talent. Building sustainable creative careers.
Make Music Nigeria is a nonprofit music and creative workforce development initiative transforming how young Nigerians access music education, skill development and performance opportunities, and the music industry.
What began in 2016 as a celebration of World Music Day has grown into a platform connecting emerging talent with learning, mentorship, creative expression and professional opportunities.
We are building on that foundation to create a sustainable ecosystem where talent is discovered, developed, celebrated and empowered to thrive.
Music Opens Possibilities. We Create the Pathways.
Make Music Nigeria is a non-profit music and creative workforce development initiative dedicated to making music more accessible, nurturing talent and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to learn, perform and build sustainable creative careers.
Our journey began in 2016 with Make Music Lagos, part of the global celebration of World Music Day. What started as a platform bringing musicians and communities together through live performances has grown into a movement connecting music education, artist development, creative expression, cultural preservation and professional opportunity.
Over the years, we have brought artists and audiences together through concerts, workshops, school programmes, volunteer opportunities and industry collaborations, extending our activities beyond Lagos to communities including Abuja, Jos, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kaduna, Imo and Akwa Ibom.
Our work has created opportunities not only for musicians but also for the people behind the music, including event producers, sound engineers, media professionals and volunteers developing practical skills within the creative industry.
Today, we are building on this foundation to establish a sustainable music development ecosystem that supports people beyond a single performance, programme or festival.
We envision a future where young people discover music regardless of their background, emerging artists develop their craft and understand the business of music, and local communities preserve and celebrate their musical heritage while benefiting from the opportunities it creates.
Our Work Already Creates Opportunities.
Across music, education and community development.
Create Stages for Talent
We provide performance opportunities that connect emerging musicians with audiences, fellow artists and industry professionals, helping them gain visibility, experience and valuable connections.
Introduce Young People to Music
Through Learn to Play, music education activities and school partnerships, we introduce students to music, instruments, creative expression and the possibilities of music.
Develop People Behind the Stage
Our events, volunteer network and production activities provide practical opportunities to gain experience in event delivery, sound, media, production and creative teamwork.
Bring Communities Together
We create shared musical experiences that encourage participation, celebrate cultural expression, support community causes and connect people through music.
Talent Is Everywhere. Opportunity Isn’t.
Nigeria’s music is celebrated around the world, but many talented young people still face significant barriers to entering and succeeding in the industry.
For aspiring musicians, producers, songwriters and other creative professionals, talent alone is not enough.
Access to quality music education, instruments, rehearsal spaces, professional mentorship, intellectual property knowledge, performance opportunities and industry networks remains limited, especially for underserved communities.
Many talented individuals never receive the support they need to develop their abilities or turn their creativity into a sustainable livelihood.
We believe access to opportunity should not depend solely on who you know, where you live or what you afford.
The challenges extend beyond performing artists. Aspiring sound engineers, event producers and other creative professionals also need opportunities to develop practical skills and build sustainable careers. At the same time, many local musical expressions, street performances and cultural traditions lack the resources needed for proper documentation, preservation and wider distribution.
That’s why Make Music Nigeria exists.
We connect the missing pieces, creating pathways from early music education to professional development, public performance, industry access and economic opportunity.
We Don’t Just Celebrate Music. We Create Opportunities Through It.
Our work connects music education, talent development, live experiences, cultural preservation and music business support. We are building an interconnected pathway that supports individuals at different stages of their creative journeys.
The Make Music pathway
Discover
Introduce young people to music and identify emerging talent through schools, communities and open performances.
Develop
Build creative and professional skills through practical training, workshops, mentorship and industry education.
Showcase
Provide access to stages, collaborations, audiences and opportunities for artistic expression.
Connect
Bridge the gap between emerging creatives and industry professionals, resources and commercial opportunities.
Sustain
Support creative entrepreneurship, intellectual property development and income opportunities that strengthen long-term careers.
Our ambition is simple: ensure that a young person’s first encounter with music becomes the beginning of something much greater.
Five Connected Programmes. One Sustainable Music Ecosystem.
Our programme model builds on Make Music Nigeria’s existing activities while developing new opportunities to reach more people, strengthen the creative workforce and preserve Nigeria’s musical heritage.
Music Cities Activation Lab
Bringing music, creativity and opportunity into communities.
We bring music into public spaces and local communities through free performances, open-mic sessions, city showcases and collaborative music experiences.
The programme also supports local event producers, sound engineers and creative professionals through practical involvement, training and production opportunities.
By expanding this model across Nigerian cities, we aim to help local music communities grow, increase visibility for emerging talent and develop the people who make live music possible.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
Partner with us through venue access, event sponsorship, production equipment, technical training, community coordination and programme delivery.
Emerging Sounds Fellowship & Incubator
Developing talent into creative professionals.
Emerging Sounds is our structured artist development pathway for musicians, songwriters and other emerging creatives.
Through practical training, mentorship, music business education, industry connections and collaborative creative projects, participants develop the skills needed to navigate the music industry.
The programme combines intensive learning with extended development opportunities, including the creation of original music and collaborative releases.
We are working to expand access to these opportunities while developing advanced programmes that support the initiative financially.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
Support artist scholarships, provide mentorship, contribute studio time and equipment, or partner with us on training, collaborative music production and distribution.
Sounds of the Street
Capturing the sounds, stories and cultures that deserve to be heard.
Nigeria’s musical identity extends far beyond mainstream recordings and commercial stages.
Sounds of the Street is our cultural documentation and content development initiative, designed to discover, record and showcase music from communities across the country.
Through mobile recording, performance documentation, playlists, short documentaries and digital distribution, the programme will help preserve local sounds and create new visibility for participating artists.
We aim to develop opportunities for creators through properly licensed recordings, content partnerships and other forms of intellectual property monetisation.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
Contribute mobile recording equipment, production expertise, travel and logistics support, or collaborate on filming, editing, archiving, distribution and content partnerships.
Learn to Play
Making music education accessible from an early age.
Every child deserves the opportunity to discover their creativity.
Learn to Play introduces students to music through hands-on workshops, music camps and school-based learning experiences.
Working with schools, music educators and partners, we provide opportunities for children to explore instruments, develop musical skills and experience the joy of creating music.
Our continued focus includes strengthening school music labs, improving access to instruments and developing more consistent learning opportunities beyond one-off workshops.
The programme also helps students discover potential pathways into music and the wider creative industry.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
Sponsor music education, donate instruments and learning materials, provide facilitators, adopt a school music lab or support the delivery of school music camps.
Music Resource Library
Equipping creatives with the knowledge to build sustainable careers.
Musical talent is only one part of building a successful creative career.
We are developing an accessible resource library to help emerging musicians and creative professionals navigate the business of music.
The library will bring together practical guides, music business resources, contract and intellectual property information, learning materials and access to relevant professional support.
By improving access to essential knowledge, we aim to help creatives make informed decisions, protect their work and build stronger businesses around their talent.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
Contribute educational content, music business expertise, legal and intellectual property guidance, digital infrastructure, recording studio time or professional advisory services.
World Music Day Is Where the Celebration Begins.
Every June 21, Make Music Nigeria joins the global celebration of World Music Day, bringing musicians, music lovers and communities together through live performances and shared musical experiences.
Our festival creates opportunities for established and emerging artists to perform, collaborate and connect with audiences. Through concerts, music workshops, conferences, community performances and other activities, we celebrate Nigeria’s musical diversity while opening doors for emerging talent.
But our mission extends beyond the festival.
We want the connections, learning and opportunities created during World Music Day to continue throughout the year.
The festival brings people together. Our programmes help opportunity continue long after the festivities stop.
A Decade of Music. Thousands of Opportunities.
Since 2016, Make Music Nigeria has brought people together through music while creating pathways for learning, creativity and professional development.
Young people trained
Artists supported
Audience reach
School music labs established
Volunteers trained
Raised for project execution, educational and community causes
Behind every number is a story.
One example of our work began with students participating in Learn to Play.
After discovering music through the programme, students went on to perform at a benefit concert organised in partnership with Courage Education Foundation. The concert supported educational fundraising, and several participating students received scholarships.
Their experience demonstrates how early access to music opens doors to opportunities that extend beyond the stage.
Music is not only what we celebrate. It is a tool for education, opportunity and community development.
Experience. People. Community.
We have spent years bringing music experiences to life, building relationships and creating opportunities for musicians and communities across Nigeria.
Our delivery foundation combines experience in live events, artist development, education logistics and community mobilisation with an established network of creative professionals, volunteers, educational institutions and industry partners.
From coordinating large-scale concerts and community performances to facilitating school music programmes and developing volunteer talent, our experience provides a foundation for delivering more structured, year-round initiatives.
Year our journey began
Trained volunteers
Nigerian cities reached
As we enter our next phase, we are focused on strengthening the systems, partnerships and resources needed to deliver our programmes consistently, measure their outcomes and sustain their impact.
We are building on an established community and years of practical experience.
Building an Initiative That Can Sustain Its Impact.
Music empowerment should not depend on a single event, sponsor or funding cycle.
Our long-term vision is to build a sustainable organisation that continues providing free and accessible music programmes while generating revenue to support its operations and growth.
Our blended model combines earned income, partnerships and philanthropic support:
Training & Professional Development
Advanced music workshops, fellowships, specialist training and learning resources generate income while expanding professional development opportunities.
Corporate Partnerships & Brand Experiences
We collaborate with businesses to create music experiences, community activations and branded content that align commercial objectives with meaningful social impact.
Creative Content & Intellectual Property
Original recordings, collaborative releases, documentaries and cultural content create opportunities for distribution, licensing and partnerships, with appropriate rights agreements.
Merchandise, Services & Creative Infrastructure
Branded merchandise, artist collaborations and future studio and booking services provide additional income to support our programmes.
Grants, Donations & Community Giving
Philanthropic contributions and institutional support help us reach underserved communities, strengthen our infrastructure and keep essential learning and performance opportunities accessible.
Let’s Build Nigeria’s Music Future Together.
Creating a sustainable music ecosystem requires more than one organisation.
We welcome collaborations with businesses, foundations, educational institutions, government agencies, music industry professionals and individuals who believe in the power of music to create meaningful opportunities.
Whether you want to support music education, develop emerging talent, activate a community or create a music experience with social impact, there is a place for you.
Ways to partner
Support Music Education
Sponsor instruments, support music camps, adopt a school music lab or help us bring music education to underserved students.
Ideal for: Foundations, CSR teams, schools and individual donors.
Develop Emerging Talent
Sponsor training opportunities, support an artist fellowship, provide mentorship or contribute professional resources and industry access.
Ideal for: Music companies, labels, producers, studios and development organisations.
Bring Music to More Communities
Partner with us to organise city activations, host performances, provide venues or support local event production.
Ideal for: City partners, venues, cultural institutions, hospitality businesses and sponsors.
Preserve & Amplify Nigerian Music
Support Sounds of the Street through recording equipment, production support, distribution partnerships and cultural documentation.
Ideal for: Media organisations, production companies, digital platforms and cultural institutions.
Create Music Experiences With Impact
Collaborate on branded music experiences, sponsored content, festivals, workshops and other initiatives that connect audiences with music and meaningful social outcomes.
Ideal for: Consumer brands, marketing teams, event partners and creative agencies.
Fund a Programme or Support the Wider Mission
Partners may support the overall initiative or contribute to a specific programme aligned with their interests and objectives.
We develop tailored partnerships with an agreed scope, delivery period, programme budget and reporting framework.
Become a Long-Term Impact Partner
Provide recurring financial or in-kind support to help strengthen our programmes, build delivery capacity and sustain year-round activities.
Ideal for: Philanthropists, foundations, corporate partners and institutional funders.
Every partnership is shaped around shared objectives, the needs of our communities and measurable outcomes.
There’s More Than One Way to Make an Impact.
For Artists & Creatives
Explore opportunities to learn, perform, collaborate and connect with the music industry.
For Schools & Educators
Bring practical music education and creative learning opportunities to your students.
For Volunteers & Professionals
Contribute your skills, experience and time to support musicians and communities.
For Music Lovers
Experience live music, discover new artists, attend events and support our growing community.
Committed to Meaningful, Measurable Impact.
Our work is about more than the number of people attending an event.
We want to understand what changes because someone participates in our programmes.
As we strengthen our operations, we are developing more consistent ways to measure and communicate outcomes across our activities.
Our impact priorities include:
- Music education access and student participation
- Skills development and training completion
- Performance opportunities and artist progression
- Creative employment, professional connections and income pathways
- Cultural documentation and creative content development
- School, community and industry partnerships
We aim to use these insights to improve our programmes, strengthen accountability and demonstrate the long-term value of our work. For each funded programme, we aim to establish clear objectives, delivery milestones and reporting expectations with our partners. Depending on the programme, these may include participation and completion figures, learning outcomes, performances and recordings delivered, resources accessed and follow-up on participants’ progression.
Our goal is to ensure that every partnership contributes to meaningful, measurable and sustainable impact.
The Next Generation of Music Talent Needs More Than a Stage.
They need Access. Education. Mentorship. Resources. Opportunity.
We are building the connections that make these possible, and we invite you to be part of the journey. Together, we make music more accessible and build a stronger future for Nigeria’s creative talent.
Let’s Make an Impact Together
Tell us a little about yourself and how you would like to collaborate.
Make Music Nigeria
Music. Empowerment. Opportunity.