TAFTA , Mastercard Foundation produce 16,000 creative talents

Over 16,000 students have graduated from Terra Academy for the Arts (TAFTA) having acquired skills in the creative industry.

TAFTA is an institution dedicated to nurturing artistic talent, career support and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The graduates, who were trained at no cost, were sponsored by TAFTA in partnership with MasterCard Foundation, whose objective is to impact the creative sector.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at Terra Kulture, Lagos, the founder of the academy, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, hinted that the academy collaborated with the academia in the university system and other practitioners to develop the curriculum for the students.

She said: “The quality of education the graduands got during their training can be compared with anywhere in the world. We took the best brain and worked with them to develop the curriculum. We have our practical centres in Ogun, Kano and Lagos states. A lot of you have benefitted from the experts.”

She expressed hope that the centre would surpass 19,000 over the next years, while admonishing the graduands to be resilient in the face of challenges by looking inwards and working on their talents.

She adds, “There is so much information online that you can use to improve yourselves. Throw up your skills for people to see. Don’t waste your time on the internet on just social engagement. Use it to better yourselves as you have done with TAFTA. Go for the best, work hard and hope for the best.”

In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola commended the founder for her passion and for believing in the creative industry’s ability to impact Africa.