Adekunle Ajasin University partners with UNESCO to establish Music department

The Adekunle Ajasin University, with the support of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has commenced preparation for the establishment of a globally recognized Music department.

The new department will focus on promoting and modernizing traditional music in the African continent. It would also expand the interest in several forms of the music and help spread them across the world.

At a kick-off ceremony, the university, located in Akungba-Addo, Ondo State, Nigeria, hosted the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s honorary and goodwill ambassador, Ino Mirkovic.

The violin player, Mirkovic is a well known performer of global repute who has performed at several concerts around the world since he was named UNESCO Artist for Peace in 1998 reports Music in Africa. 

Addressing the audience, Mirkovic disclosed that the experience and knowledge he had gained across the world would be helpful in the effort to establish the department.

According to him, the establishment of arts and music department was “going to be very challenging because Nigeria has a tradition in music and dance” adding that “it will be challenging to bring the knowledge and the experience of western and eastern cultures and to upgrade the local culture here to have a new mixture, which has never happened before.”

Mirkovic promised to organize student and staff exchange programmes between Adekunle Ajasin University and other institutions offered courses in music and dance across the world.

In his address, the pro-chancellor and chairman of the Adekunle Ajasin University council, Tunji Abayomi, disclosed that Mirkovic would work with the university as a consultant to enable the newly established department to produce quality and competent graduates.