United States Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills (Jr.) has expressed delight on the outcome of the third edition of the Youth Excellence on Stage (YES) Academy Nigeria programme which brought together young multidimensionally talented and resilient artists to display their skills and learn the art of creativity.
Mills expressed his delight at the outcome of the programme Abuja International African Jazz Festival in Abuja on Sunday.
He said the event recognised the enduring bond between Nigerian and American cultures.
“I have been hearing a bit about the event from my team and I was told you have all been here for days learning, collaborating, and ultimately showcasing great dynamics of music and talent.
“It is a remarkable programme and you guys are all part of it, since its inception in 2007.
“As we heard, the YES Academy has been an icon, a beacon of cultural exchange and empowerment between the United States and a long list of participating countries,” he said.
According to him, the programme has shaped several young Nigerian artists for the global stage.
“In the past three years, the partnership between American voices and the U.S. embassy here in Nigeria has one that has inspired more than 110 young artists to help them transform their aspirations into achievements.
“This year’s edition is led by a fantastic team of U.S. and Nigerian professionals,.
“No fewer than 28 young, talented Nigerians were brought together for an unforgettable Journey over the past 8 days.
“These artists poured out their hearts and their souls into workshops and song writing, vocals, music production, and the music business.
“They are testaments to the power of collaboration, creativity in the human spirit.
“It is a bond that grows stronger with each chapter of this remarkable programme and we will continue to support this remarkable event,” he added.
Kolawole Fashola, Head of Business Affairs and Operations at the Temple Company and owners of Ogidi Studios, said the musical fiesta was a masterpiece.
“I saw a lot of young artists, young talents on stage showcasing their skills and God-given talents and that makes me very optimistic of the future.
“I believe that YES Academy will be bigger in the next couple of years,” he said.
Tosin Salako, an African Jazz artist and the organiser of the festival said music collaborations such as the one organised by YES Academy “is the future of music globally”.
“I was a mentee at the YES Academy in 2021 and now I am part of the coordinating team and volunteers for the 2025 event.
“I think this academy is great because it fosters collaboration which is what a lot of young artists need.
“Collaboration is the key word and we cannot emphasise it enough because music can take you anywhere if you collaborate. “It is the future. Collaboration is the future and that is one of the areas of emphasis for the YES Academy,” he said.
Young talents in Nigeria’s music space can take world by storm
Maria Stallone, the Director of Programmes at the American Voices on Sunday described as mind-blowing the quality of young talents in the Nigerian music space, saying they had the potential to take the world by storm.
Stallone made this description in Abuja at the third edition of the Youth Excellence on Stage (YES) Academy Nigeria programme.
The programme brought together young multidimensionally talented and resilient artists to display and explore raw skills and learn the art of creativity.
According to Stallone, the academy has empowered many artists to better place Nigerian music on the music map globally.
The third edition of YES Academy Nigeria brought together young artists and talented individuals in Abuja, showcasing their skills and creativity on stage.
She described the Youth Excellence on Stage (YES) Academy as a transformative initiative designed to empower young artists through intensive workshops in music, songwriting, and branding among other things,
She highlighted the programme’s commitment to fostering artistic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration in Nigeria.
“The YES Academy Nigeria 2025 Project Showcase is a global initiative that unites performing artists from different parts of the world,” Stallone noted.
The American Voices director said that the YES Academy had more than 7,000 alumni worldwide, with Nigeria now in its third iteration.
“We bring together young singers, songwriters, musicians, rappers, and producers to engage and learn the art of collaboration, build their confidence and expose them to opportunities to explore in the music space.
“Over the course of 10 days, under the guidance of two American instructors, we have produced an outstanding show.
“The quality of talents in Nigeria is mind-blowing, and I believe it has the potential to take the world by storm,” she added.
Stallone also stressed the importance of collaboration among young Nigerian musicians, both within and outside the country.
Speaking, Jessica Bongos, the Project Coordinator, YES Academy Nigeria described the academy is a music exchange programme initiated by an American Voices, an American organisation that brings musicians together in a space of learning about music and the art of collaboration.
“Apart from learning, the programme fosters connectivity, creates opportunities for participants to empower each other and connect with one another, and do music together.
“It is a yearly programme.
“We create alumni for support and create a network of opportunities for them in the music industry.
“The programme is in many countries and Nigeria is one of them,” she added. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that third edition of the YES Academy was sponsored by the United States
