NICO North-East Join In World Culture Day 2013 Celebration Friday, 24 May 2013 09:14 | Print | PDF altThe North-East Zonal Office of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), on the 21st of May, 2013, at the Saleh Michika Conference Hall of Government Girls Secondary School, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State, organized the UN declared World Culture Day for Diversity, Dialogue and Development, with the theme, “Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion.” In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of NICO, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, who was chief host, stated that NICO has over the years being at the forefront of organizing enlightenment and sensitization programmes for all strata of society aimed at providing value orientation and placing culture properly within the context of national development. The ES, who was represented by the NICO Zonal Coordinator, North-East, Malam Isma’ila Ahmad, noted that culture is the identity of any given people and any society that loses its identity has lost the essential values that guarantee its existence. The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Baba Ali Likita, who is the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Adamawa State on Culture, in his opening remark, commended the management of the Institute, for locating the altZonal Head Office in Yola, Adamawa State, saying that Adamawa is the “Melting Pot of Unity in Diversity.” According to him, the State has witnessed tremendous promotion and diversification of culture through NICO’s Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) and the establishment of NICO Cultural Clubs in schools, concluding that it is dangerous for any nation to ignore the role of youths in its developmental. In a lecture, titled, “Nigerian Cultural Values: The Reality, Challenges and Prospects,” Dr. Umar Zubairu of the Federal College of Education, Yola, said every society is made up of human beings, and it is their culture that makes the society different from another. According to him, Nigerian culture is faced with serious challenges: the subversion and destruction of the pride and confidence of the Nigerian people in their culture, and the inculcation of beliefs in its inferiority to the Euro-American culture; and that of globalization. altConcluding his paper, Zubairu reiterated the fact that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation, and that the social reality is “unity in diversity” of not only ethnic but religion, culture, history and politics; and so, there was need for the different cultures to complement one another, to encourage the exchange of ideas, technology and social institutions. Delivering his keynote address, the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Adamawa State, Mr. Philip Ahmed Gutuwa, who was Special Guest of Honour, lauded NICO’s effort in promoting Nigeria’s cultural values for national cohesion through programmes, such as, Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) and NICO Cultural Clubs in schools, which are in line with the policies and programmes of the Adamawa State Government. The Commissioner, represented by the Director of Culture in the Ministry, Mr. Michael Dilli, observed that the Institute’s commitment to the promotion of the cultural well-being of Nigerians was in line with the UN Declaration through UNESCO, that culture should be the bedrock of development will be given necessary support. altAlso speaking, the Royal Father of the Day, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Mai’anguwa of Alkalawa B. Jimeta, advised youths to take advantage of the lecture that was delivered to live culture-oriented lifestyles, affirming that the traditional institution, being the custodian of culture in the State, will always support NICO and its activities in the zone. The Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State, who was represented by Mr. Idrisu Dabban, the ACP Operations, advised the youth and the general public to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the nearest police station. He urged the students to learn to live together in peace irrespective of religious and ethnic differences. The State Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Adamawa State, who was represented by Dr. Sam Onyemachi, an Assistant Controller, emphasized that the need to return to our core cultural values should be the concern of all, adding that Nigerians must find ways and means of integrating the cultural values of peace, tolerance, hard work, good neighbourliness, respect for elders and constituted authorities, into the educational curricula of children, who are the future leadalters and hope of the country. A play by the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Adamawa State chapter, titled, “The Young Suckers,” showcasing the essence of unity in Nigeria’s cultural diversity, added colour to the event. Other dignitaries at the event include the Zonal Accountant, NECO, Mohamed Sani Hudu, the representative of the DG, AAMM, Adamawa State, Mr. lbrahim Obadiah, Director, Adamawa State Arts Council, Alhaji Umaru Balula, Principals and Coordinators of NICO Cultural Clubs in schools, among others. Yusuf Abdullahi Naguto Corporate Affairs Unit NICO North-East
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:35:11 +0000
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