altThe Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has stated that the Institute will make provision for those, who are physically challenged, especially visually impaired, to be part of its Nigerian Indigenous Language programme (NILP).
Stating this at the closing ceremony of the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP), Dr. Ayakoroma said that NICO was challenged to look in the direction of accommodating these physically challenged Nigerians from a request made by blind persons during a live radio phone-in programme.
He said though the Institute does not have the facilities like Braille for the blind, provisions will be made for them in subsequent editions of NILP, because the Institute was delighted and encouraged by the enthusiasm and response received from the general public.
According to him, the programme, “did not only witness a remarkable increase in the number of participants, candidates were drawn from all strata of society; children, students, members of paramilitary institutions, media houses, wives, diplomats, and even visually impaired.”
The ES further explained that to underscore the importance of NILP to NICO, the Institute  presented a memo at the recently concluded National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, which took place at Ilorin, Kwara State, from 22nd to 24th August, 2012.
The prayer to Council members, he said, was for them to support NILP in their various States by providing technical assistance in the area of qualified teachers, adding that support from states would facilitate the take off of the weekend study programme in such states.
Continuing, he added that the successful launch of the weekend language programme will make NILP convenient for a greater number of people to participate while several minority languages will also be covered, stressing: “We are convinced that with increased awareness and patronage of this programme, many of our indigenous languages would be revived and serve as veritable vehicle for the transformation of our rich cultural heritage.”
The event, which took place at Merit House, Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, had a lot of dignitaries in attendance with the Honourable Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Documentation in the Ministry, Mr. Chudi Nwandu, as the Special Guest of Honour, the Chairman of the occasion, was Dr. George Teke, of the Department of Linguistics and African Studies, University of Abuja.
Others are the wife of the Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Mrs. Dela Obika; the wife of the ES, Mrs. Letty Ayakoroma; Director of Culture in the  Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mr. George Ufot; the Director, UNESCO Country Representative, represented by the National Programmes Officer on Culture, Mr. Ayo Ayanwale; Director-General National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), represented by Asst. Director Broadcast, Content and Zonal Co-ordination, Mrs. Franca Aiyetan; the Executive Secretary, National Council on Colleges of Education (NCCE), represented by Mr. Sam Ugwuoti; Director-General, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), represented by Mr. Cornel Agim; the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal O.I. Ewhrudjakpor; the Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), represented by Mr. Sunday Fagbemi; the Commandant-General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), represented by Assistant Commandant General (Admin), Ojeniyi Emmanuel Oyetunji; the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Prisons Service, represented by Asst. Controller General Chuks Afulue.

Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs