Attendance at the current one-month long Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) in the South-West Zone of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) peaked at fifty-five (55) on Thursday, 7th August, 2014, as the programme entered its second week.
The choice of Aquinas College, Akure was informed by the success recorded in the just concluded weekend edition of the programme, where Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, also in Akure, was used and a great number of persons participated, peaking at 161; both schools are among the eighteen (18) NICO Cultural Clubs in the zone.
According to the Zonal Head, Mr. Ohi Ojo, this was a way of ensuring continuity in relationship between the zone and the schools, where the NICO Cultural Clubs are christened, “Omoluabi,” adding that the choice of venue was also to take the programme nearer the people.
A breakdown of the attendance shows that Hausa class peaked on Thursday, 7th August with thirty-three (33), Igbo class peaked on Friday, 8th August, with twelve (12), Yoruba class peaked on Thursday 7th August, with nine (9), while Izon class peaked on Thursday, 7th August, with three (3).
A remarkable feature of the programme was the attendance by about ten (10) adults, especially teachers from Aquinas College, just as participants were given tags for identification and security reasons.
It will be recalled that this year’s edition of the one-month long NICO Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) in the South-West Zone formally commenced on Tuesday, 5th August, 2014 at Aquinas College, Akure with four (4) languages of study, namely, Hausa, Igbo, Izon and Yoruba; and it is hoped that more people will register for the programme.
Funmilola Owan
NICO SWZ