Musicologists seek economic reforms, better monetisation of music sector

The Association of Nigerian Musicologists has called for urgent economic reforms in the country's music sector, emphasizing the need for improved monetization, music education, technology, tourism, and stronger policy support. At the opening ceremony of the 22nd Annual Conference at Mountain Top University in Ogun State, the group's president, Prof. Femi Abiodun, challenged music scholars and practitioners to demonstrate how music could generate measurable economic value.

He criticized the lack of integration of Nigerian music into educational curricula and urged institutions to focus on producing musical instruments and technologies that could create employment, revenue, and export opportunities. Abiodun also highlighted the need to address the poor monetization of creative work in Nigeria, noting that society often places higher financial value on physical products than intellectual and creative services.

He stressed that music must become a competitive sector alongside traditional industries such as oil and gas, generating more economic value than them.