Stakeholders at the weekend called for proper funding of military bands to enable them evolve into global brands capable of attracting foreign exchange through the exportation of original contents.
They also advocated the review of the curriculum of military schools of music to be at par with those of universities for career development of their personnel.
These suggestions were made at this year’s Nigerian Navy Band annual conference organised by the Directorate of Music, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, with the theme “Music Education in the NN: Past, Present and Future”.
The three-day conference which was held at the Nigerian Navy School of Music (NNSM), Ota, Ogun State, brought together music lecturers from reputable universities, musicians, script writers and other stakeholders in the field.
Participants at the conference unanimously agreed that there was need for the military bands to embrace Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which they said, had limitless possibilities for teaching and learning music.
Setting the pace for the discussions, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, noted the important role music, as a soft power, played in military operations.
The CNS who was represented by the Naval Training Command’s (NAVTRAC) ashore and sea officer, Commodore Raheem Taofeek, said music provided parameters that could be used to frame experiences, feelings and comportment.
He reiterated the Navy’s commitment to the creation and adoption of policies aimed at improving professionalism and capacity building.
“I would like to emphasize here that quality training and retraining of our officers and ratings in all capacity is paramount in our military endeavours.
“The Directorate of Music from inception has been a department to reckon with in terms of training. Judging by the array of seasoned scholars, serving and retired officers as well as important stakeholders participating in this conference, I am confident that your wealth of knowledge and experience would enrich the deliberations.
“The NN Band should collaborate with experienced music educators in higher institutions such as universities, colleges of education or polytechnics to ensure that their educational programmes are effective and we’ll structures. This kind of initiative could have a positive impact on both the NN’s image and the development of musical talent within the country.
“The NN Band should engage with local communities through music initiatives, workshops and performances. This would promote cultural awareness and appreciation…More of these community engagements can be extended to primary and secondary schools around and other educational centres. Through these kinds of educative and entertaining interactions, the NNB can further contribute to music education in Nigeria.
-Thenation
