The appointment of Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma as the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) is still attracting commendation, though Ayakoroma is close to two (2) years in office.
This one is coming from a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, as part of his closing remarks during the celebration of Wole Soyinka at 77 that was put together by Arojah Royal Theatre, an Abuja based Theatre Company and the National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), at the Korean Cultural Centre, Rivers House, Central Business District, Abuja on Wednesday, July 13, 2011.
Describing Ayakoroma as “a round peg in a round hole”, Prof. Adeniran disclosed that he was particularly happy when he got to know about the appointment: “When I heard that Ayakoroma was appointed as the head of NICO, I said that is a round peg in a round hole”.
Prof. Adeniran, who donated the proceeds of one of his books: “The Politics of Wole Soyinka”, to the organizers of the event, also decried the dying reading culture in Nigeria and pleaded with Nigerians to revive it as that is the only way Nigeria can produce more Wole Soyinkas.
The former Minister of Education further said appointments like that of Ayakoroma come through hardwork, dedication and commitment to duty, and challenged the youths to wake up and learn from what Wole Soyinka represents, stressing: “The future is what we will make of it. Let us wake up, listen and appreciate what Wole Soyinka represents, so that we can produce more Soyinkas”.
Dr. Ayakoroma, who is a third generation author and playwright, after Wole Soyinka’s first generation, delivered a theme talk at the event that was attended by some former Ministers, Culture Practitioners, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Nollywood and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Enock Etimighan
Corporate Affairs