The priest in-charge of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Independence Layout, Enugu, Very Rev. Monsignor Dr. Obiakoizu Iloanusi (Onwa), has given his spiritual backing to National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) to be in the fore-front in the restoration of our culture.
Msgr Iloanusi, who is also the chairman of the acculturation arm of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, with the mandate to ensure the reviving and promotion of our cherished cultural heritage, stated that NICO Management had brought hope for the Igbo language, which was predicted by UNESCO of possibly going into extinction in fifty (50) years to come if care is not taken.
He charged the Management of NICO not to relent in its noble project and praised the resilient spirit of the staff of NICO Enugu State office, headed by Mr. Nwajagu Nnaemeka, in the promotion of Nigerian indigenous languages and cultures through NICO Cultural Clubs in schools.
The priest pledged, on behalf of the church, to support NICO in collaborating in her programmes just as he will also involve NICO Enugu State Office in the annual Diocesan lectures on cultural re-orientation.
Earlier, the Head, NICO Enugu State office, Mr. Nwajagu Nnaemeka had briefed the clergyman on the mission and vision of NICO, which coincidentally, he said, was similar to the purpose of the acculturation policy of the Diocese; and prayed the clergy to help in the propagation of the challenging but needful task of reviving cultural pride in Nigerians.
Also contributing, Mr. Tony Chukwu of Orientation & Cultural Affairs department expatiated on the programmes and activities of NICO, emphasizing on the problems facing the mother tongue which is fast eroding, and soliciting the support of the church in the realization of the mandate to revive the use of indigenous languages in Nigeria.
Some members of staff in attendance were Messrs. Austine Okezie, Tony Chukwu, Mike Ibe and Emenike Ifeanyi.
Kingsley Ngoka
Corporate Affairs
NICO Enugu