Emmanuel Akapo, the renowned international music entrepreneur and President of Tenstrings Music Institute, has officially declared his intention to establish a world-class Performing Arts Academy in Ekiti State.
This strategic expansion aims to tap into the raw creative potential of the region while providing a professional platform for the next generation of West African talent. During a recent high-profile visit to the state, Akapo also confirmed that the prestigious Camp Africa conference, an annual gathering of 100 elite young musicians, will move its upcoming October edition from a Lagos beach resort to the historic Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort.
A Vision for the Performing Arts Academy in Ekiti
The decision to build a permanent Performing Arts Academy in Ekiti follows Akapo’s tour of the state’s natural landmarks and cultural sites. Having already trained over 30,000 musical artists from 13 different countries at his Lagos headquarters, Akapo noted that the new facility will serve as a creative lighthouse for all South West states excluding Lagos.
Akapo’s visit was facilitated by Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, the Director General of the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture. The entrepreneur expressed deep gratitude for the invitation, which allowed him to experience what he described as a “unique state with unique topography.”
Why Tenstrings Music Institute is Shifting Focus
The President of Tenstrings Music Institute was visibly moved by the environmental and cultural richness of the “Land of Honour.” His praise for the local landscape was effusive, drawing comparisons to international scenery.
“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.”
His immersive experience went beyond sightseeing. Akapo spent time engaging with locals, stating: “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.”
Investing in Talent: The Ekiti Music Scholarship
Beyond infrastructure, the mission involves direct human investment. Akapo has already awarded a significant Ekiti music scholarship to five promising local acts, including the producer Gbenga Kayode, known professionally as GMP. This initiative underscores the academy’s commitment to finding and polishing “wonderful raw performing and creative artists” within the state.
Responding to the gesture, GMP described the encounter as a life-changing event.
“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.”
Relocating the Camp Africa Conference
The shift of the Camp Africa conference to Ikogosi represents a major win for Ekiti tourism. Akapo credited the professional posture of Chief Ayo Ademilua, Managing Director of the resort, for the venue change. He noted that the hospitality and the administrative aura of the state government played a pivotal role in his decision to plant roots in the region.
Mr Festus Abegunde, Director of the Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe, spoke on behalf of the Director-General to thank Akapo for bringing “the value of purpose” to the state. With the Performing Arts Academy in Ekiti now on the horizon, the state is poised to become a central hub for Nigeria’s booming creative economy.
