Lotana’s Music Journey: Balancing Lectures and Live Shows at UNILAG

For many students, university life revolves around lectures, assignments and the countdown to graduation. For Ikechi-Oleka Lotanachino Chidera, known artistically as Lotana, it also includes studio sessions, streaming platforms and live performances.

A 300-level English Education student at the University of Lagos, Lotana has been making music for five years. It began as a natural extension of his upbringing but has now grown into a passion he treats not just as art, but as business.

Lotana and His Background  in Music

Coming from a musical family, music was never foreign to him. It was familiar and almost inevitable. The fact that his brother is also an artist known as Somto O’laker further reinforces that creative environment.

Lotana sees music as more than inheritance. It is an expression. He explains that music is a way of expressing himself and connecting with the people around him. Over time, that expression evolved from something casual into something serious.

The Weight Behind Lotana’s Passion

Passion does not erase pressure. For Lotana, the reality of pursuing music as a student has been both financially and mentally demanding.

He says plainly that music is business and it takes a lot from you financially and mentally. Unlike the glamorous image often associated with music artistry, building a music career requires consistent investment. Studio time, production, promotion and branding are no easy feats. Balancing those demands with academic responsibilities can be overwhelming.

At one point, the tension between school and music became significant enough for him to defer a year in order to participate in live music shows. It was a decision that shows just how seriously he takes his craft.

Still, Lotana remains clear-eyed about priorities. He insists that education is equally important as his passion for music.

Funding His Dream

Although music does generate income for him, primarily through streaming, the earnings are not always predictable or sufficient.

He admits that keeping up with the financial demands of both school and music can sometimes be a struggle.

While he receives strong emotional support from his family, financial backing is largely absent. Most of the expenses tied to his music career come directly from him.

Beyond Financial Gain

Despite the challenges, music has given him something invaluable: a platform for self-expression and a way to earn while still in school.

For Lotana, artistry is not simply about performance. It is about identity. It is a channel through which he communicates thoughts, emotions and experiences that might otherwise remain unspoken.

In an environment where many students are still discovering themselves, he has found clarity in sound.

His Vision For Growth

Lotana’s ambitions stretch beyond the present moment. As a student, he is already thinking about building companies and reaching significant milestones within the next five years.

His vision as an artist is bold. He hopes to see himself at the top, making great music. He can’t wait for the work to appreciate his sonic art.

Lotana’s journey highlights a reality many student creatives face: talent alone is not enough. It demands sacrifice, financial commitment and mental resilience.

Balancing lectures with live shows, coursework with creative direction, and streaming income with academic expenses is no small task. Yet for students like Lotana, the pursuit of passion does not cancel out the pursuit of education.

His story is not just about music but also about intention. It is a reminder that ambition doesn’t have to wait until graduation.