The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Network Station, Minna, Niger State, has expressed its commitment to partner the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Niger State Office, Minna, in the forthcoming Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) of the Institute.   The General Manager, NTA Minna, Alhaji Umar Mohammed, made this known in his office in Minna, recently, during a courtesy call paid on him by officials of the NICO Minna State Office.

According to him, NTA, as an agency of government, was established to propagate government programmes and policies, especially those that promote the Nigeria culture, which is exactly what NICO is doing, and as such, his office was obliged to help in actualizing that mandate.

Umar, who expressed particular interest in the one-month intensive indigenous language programme of the Institute, said, “It is a veritable tool in studying and appreciating a particular culture. If you don’t know one’s language, you can’t study his culture.”

He expressed optimism that the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) will aid in their indigenous language communication skills gave his assurance that NTA, Minna Network Centre, will sponsor some staffers to participate in the programme in August 2013. 

However, he lamented that NTA, as self-sponsored organization, is most times constrained by limited resources in the desire to assist sister parastatals of government, but assured of minimal assistance in order to continue to identify with NICO as an organ in its priority list.

The GM also enjoined the leadership of NICO State Office in Minna to partner other cultural organizations in the state to enable it achieve her mandate, just as he urged them to altexplore other media organizations, especially Radio, since it is affordable and most common to the rural dwellers.

Earlier, the Head of the Niger State Office of NICO, Mrs. Funke Ndukwe, had said that the courtesy call was in view of the recognition of the strategic position of the Minna Network Centre of NTA in effectively disseminating the activities of the Institute at the grassroots.

She observed that the collaboration of NTA in Niger State, in informing, educating and enlightening the citizenry on the programmes and activities of the Institute, will be invaluable and called for his cooperation.

Oyewole Akanle
Corporate Affairs
NICO Minna