Ojediran Fatiah: Singing to uplift young Nigerians

Can we meet you?
My name is Ojediran Fatiah. I am 11 years old and in JSS 2. I am from Ogun State.

What do you do?
I am an artist and a student

How did you come into music?
I started singing right from when I was five years old. I find singing interesting and could do it for hours. Singing and listening to music is one of my favourite activities.

What inspires you?
Mostly, it is from my role models. I believe that if they can do it, I can do it better. I also get inspiration from things that happen around me.

What challenges have you encountered so far?
Combining studies with singing was difficult at first. But with time, it got better and I was able to strike a balance.

How do you solve these challenges?
Presently, my priority is my studies. So, I decided to shift all of my musical activities to holiday periods and sometimes during weekends.

Who are your role models?
They are Jojo Siwa, Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade.

Have you started making money from concerts?
Well, I have my own fan base and have started making money from music, though not yet much. I, however, believe that things will get better with time.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
In the next five years, I hope to see myself doing well academically and also making progress in my music career.

Have you received an award since you started?
Yes, I have. These include the ENYA award for the Most Outstanding Kid 2018; Arise O’ Nigeria Award for the Most Outstanding Kid 2019; Coolwealth Award for the Best Kid Artiste 2019; and ENYA Award for Best Kid in Music Entertainment 2020.

I have also featured in the Music and Message Concert at Freedom Park, Lagos; One Lagos Fiesta; Lagos State University Music Concert; Lagos State Music Fiesta, and the 2018 Nigeria Independence Party in Lagos.

I am currently trending on some select radio and TV stations and online channels, including YouTube, with my newest single, Leaders of Tomorrow. The single is inspiring advocacy that passionately pleads with governments to provide quality and adequate care for children.

I made the single to draw attention to children’s plight. So, government and other caregivers could raise their levels of caring for them to meet the standard of the United Nations International Children Fund (UNICEF).

What is your advice to other kids?
I would advise them to stay positive and focus on their studies.