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Since releasing her debut album during the COVID-19 period in 2020, Kikelomo Oladele has not rested on her oar to bring God’s message to the world through her singing.
Her cultural uniqueness is evident in her artistry as she skillfully blends elements of her yoruba symbolism to play.
Knowing that God wants more people to make themselves available for the kingdom assignment through singing,
Oladele has revealed her plans to establish a Creative Arts Academy for children and teenagers in 2024.
According to her, the academy will harness the gifts of young people and help them focus positively on their talents and passions.
Oladele shared her vision for the academy in an exclusive interview with our correspondent.
She said, “We are planning to establish a Creative Arts Academy in 2024 which will harness the gifts of children and help focus them positively. Be it singing, dancing, graphics, social media art, composing, instrumentation, and production, we should guide them young so they know who they are early, and the importance of their gift.”
She said the academy would address the issue of identity crisis that many young people go through, which leads to negative outcomes. She said she wants to guide them young so they know who they are early and the importance of their gift.
Oladele also spoke about her journey in ministry, her challenges, her messages for Nigerians and gospel ministers, and her relationship with her home church.
Oladele said she started her music ministry under the tutelage of Bishop Taiwo Adelakun of Victory International Church, where she has been a member of the Victory Voices Choir for over 15 years. She said she learned the disciplines and ethics of ministry from her spiritual parents, Bishop Adelakun and Pastor Mrs Dolapo Adelakun.
“I thank God for His faithfulness. It has been a learning process for me. I had to grow and mature in character. Every experience I have had has contributed to that growth.
“I learned not to give up because when God gives you an assignment, you will face diverse obstacles. Attempting to avoid or circumvent the process will be detrimental to your growth. I was ordained by Bishop Taiwo Adelakun of Victory International Church and have been under his tutelage as a minister for over 15 years. He would insist that you must not be exposed too early, lest you mess up your call. I learned the disciplines of the ministry and also to love people, even those who are critics and adversaries.
“The year 2020 was an epoch-making year for me because all those songs I had been writing and composing for years started being released and we’re still in the process. The song Open Wide was a declaration that COVID would not swallow the world but we would be open to live free again. We thank God for coming through, despite the seemingly unsurmountable hurdles. The vision for SEEK NOWW Concert was also birthed that year,” she said.
She said her biggest challenge as a minister was getting people who would run with her vision, which is to make the knowledge of the glory of God cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. She said she had to deal with diverse obstacles and critics, but she learned not to give up because God gave her an assignment.
She also said she faced resistance from her biological parents when she was young because they did not understand her calling. She said they later became supportive of her ministry after they joined the church.
She said, “My biggest challenge was convincing my biological parents that I had a calling in the music ministry. At that time, my parents were not yet members of a church so I was the only one attending the church. They didn’t understand that apart from church services, I also had to attend rehearsal and vocal training, etc. Now, my parents are a strong part of my support system.”
Oladele said she released her first album in 2020 as a declaration that COVID-19 would not swallow the world but people would be open to live free again. She said she also birthed the vision for SEEK NOWW Concert that year, which is an annual event that showcases gospel music and arts.
She said her songs are messages of hope and assurance of God’s love for Nigerians, especially at these critical times in the country. She said she wants people to know that this is not the time to complain and murmur, but to declare what they want to see and experience in Nigeria.
