Bishop on the Niger, Anambra State, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, has urged Nigerian youths to take music seriously as a profession, saying that acquiring skills in singing and playing musical instruments could open doors to popularity, relevance, scholarships and other opportunities in life.
Nwokolo made the call on Thursday, September 3, 2026, while presiding the formal closing ceremony of the 2026 Summer Music Class organised by the diocese.
In the 20-minute homily he said at the event held at the C.J. Patterson International Auditorium, Onitsha, the bishop told Nigerian youths: “If you want to be popular and relevant, have a skill in singing.”
He also encouraged the students and pupils to develop competence in playing musical instruments and other aspects of music, stressing that they should not treat the opportunity to learn music casually.
According to him, music was not only a profession but also a powerful means of worship, prayer, encouragement and spiritual renewal.
Nwokolo recalled the biblical account of David, who, he said, began using music to praise God from childhood, urging parents to encourage their children to develop musical skills early in life.
He explained that songs could provide encouragement and refreshment when people faced threats, difficulties or emotional challenges, noting that music could positively affect the spiritual, mental and emotional wellbeing of individuals.
The bishop commended the instructors for their commitment to directing the children towards God through music and encouraging them with songs of worship.
He told both instructors and learners that they were in the right place, expressing optimism that God could use the programme to take the participants to enviable positions in life.
Also speaking, the Diocesan Choirmaster and Music Director of All Saints’ Cathedral, Associate Professor Lady Ngozi Okonkwo, appealed to parents not to discourage their children from taking up music as a career.
She said that music had become a valuable and relevant profession, stressing that the old perception that people who studied music were “never-do-wells” was no longer tenable.
The Chairman, All Saints’ Cathedral Choir, Engineer Chikelo Okoye, described this year’s programme as a significant improvement over the 2025 edition.
He expressed hope that the initiative would eventually develop into a full-fledged music school or academy, with flexible weekend and short-term programmes operating throughout the year.
In an interview shortly after the event, the Diocesan Music Director, Sir Ifeanyi Ezeugo, expressed optimism that the programme would blossom into something extraordinary, particularly as it had begun producing music graduates from renowned institutions.
He commended both the instructors and the learners for making the year's session a success, while expressing a profound gratitude to the bishop for what he described as his invaluable care and love for the class.
Sir Ezeugo urged the participants to take what they learnt during the session seriously and apply the bishop’s advice in their daily lives.
The ceremony was attended by music professionals, including HRH C.J. Okereke, diocesan clergy, parents, guardians, parishioners and music lovers from within and outside the diocese.
