From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

Musicians in Nigeria have been urged to ensure that the society, especially, the younger people, imbibe the right values in life through the music they expose them to.

They were equally tasked on the need to use their talents to ensure that governments at all levels are responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

Speaking as a resource person at the maiden “Ogun State Indigenous Music Fiesta”, at the Cultural Center in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Friday, a music and art enthusiast, Engr. Tajudeen Adisa Olori, said music should be used to propagate government policies and condemn anti-people policies.

Olori, who spoke on the “Artistes Role In the Society”, said: “beyond the conventional role of music as a medium of entertainment, our musicians should strife to ensure that popular government programmes and policies are protected.

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“In the same capacity and engaging the same medium of music, the performing musicians should connect wisdom and sense of responsibility in bringing the attention of government to policies and programmes of government which are oppressive, dehumanising, and sometimes killing,”

According to Olori, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) should be more alive to her responsibility of ensuring the sanity of the contents of songs before they hit the airwaves.

He frowned at the lewd contents of some songs and challenged musicians to ensure that their songs convey the right values in the society.

Convener of the Indigenous Music Fiesta, Segun Sowunmi, in his remarks, urged his members to be socially responsible by paying taxes to government as at when due.

He said his advice was borne of the belief that government would be encouraged to do more for the people if levies and taxes due to the government are paid as at when due.