An international music entrepreneur and President, Tenstrings Music Institute, Lagos Mr Emmanuel Akapo has declared his intention of establishing a Performing Arts Academy in Ekiti State.
Mr Akapo who owns the biggest music institute in Nigeria also announced that his Camp Africa conference, an annual congregation of 100 young Nigerians music acts which has been scheduled to hold in a Beach Resort in Lagos will hold at Ikogosi Warm Doring Resort in October.
Akapo who also awarded music training scholarship to 5 upcoming music acts of Ekiti state origin which include GMP Gbenga Kayode made this revelation during his visit to the Director General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre at the State Secretariat Ado Ekiti.
He thanked Ambassador Ojo-Lanre for luring him to Ekiti which enabled him to see ” a unique state with unique topography, fascinating people and wonderful.raw performing and creative artists”.
He disclosed that “This is my first time in Ekiti State. I am grateful to the Director-General Ojo-Lanre for facilitating this. I also thank God for enabling me to see a state which has almost the same geographical configuration like The Wales, UK, I am also dazed by seeing the Ikogosi Warm Spring Pool, the only such natural warm pool in Africa. I am also amazed when I got to the Arinta Waterfall in Ipole Iloro. I was fascinated at the sky of Ekiti which is unique from the sky of another state. Ekiti is the best state which my eyes have been fed with hills and rocks rolling together forming an unforgettable scenery in my optical library. I was compelled to alight from my car to fry akara with the seller, take pictures of the Governor House from Akute side, the foliage of the tick forest between Ilawe and Erinjiyan road and the ridge circumference at the parking lot of Arinta waterfall.”
Mr Akapo who has trained 30000 musical arts from 13 countries in Lagos said his love for Ekiti hospital, environment and the aura of Governor Kayode Fayemi have led him to decide to locate the Performing Arts Academy in Ekiti State which will serve all South West States other than Lagos
He disclosed “my visit to Ikogosi Warm Spring and the posture of Chief Ayo Ademilua, Managing Director made me cancel the hitherto venue of our Camp Africa to Ikogosi.”
Gbenga Kayode popularly known as GMP one of the five beneficiaries of the music training scholarship commended Dr Kayode Fayemi for attracting good people to Ekiti State.
He pointed out ” this is one of my best days on Earth. Though I am a producer this is a man I have been dreaming to meet. It is a dream come true. Mr Akapo is the best musicologist in Nigeria. I am grateful to God for making this miracle come true.”
Responding on behalf of the Director-General, Mr Festus Abegunde, Director, Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe thanked Mr Akapo for his interest in Ekiti and for coming to add the value of purpose to Ekiti State.
He commended the Director-General, Ojo-Lanre for his robust sense of responsibility and service to this state.
