Post Graduate Students of the 2016/2017 academic session of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Abuja Study Centre started the defence of their research projects, submitted in partial fulfilment of the Institute’s requirements for the award of the Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration (PGDCA). The project  defence was held at the Institute’s Headquarters in Abuja, at 23 Kigoma Street, Wuse Zone 7,  on  Thursday 14th December, 2017.

The essence of the project defence according to the Coordinator of the NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, Dr. Regina Onuoha is to ensure that the projects are of good standards and to ascertain that the students are able to defend the projects they are about submitting to the Institute. The project defence will also determine the originality and valid contributions of the projects to the preservation and promotion of Nigerian culture, as NICO has the mandate to train cultural development officers who will integrate Nigeria’s culture into the educational system at all levels to facilitate the practical application of the Nigerian culture in everyday activity. A Deputy Director/SA to the ES, Mr Law Ikay Ezeh, who represented the Ag. ES, added that the students needed to defend their projects in order to show that the projects were actually carrief out by them independently and did not resort to plagiarism. The Acting Executive Secretary of the Institute, Mr Louis Eriomala, commended the students for their committement and efforts in the programme and urged them to concentrate on answering their research questions and recommendations while defending their projects.

A total number of Sixteen (16) students successfully defended their  projects and some of their topics include “The Influence of Western Culture on Nigerian Food Culture”. The Significance of the Fattening Room in Efik Marriage”. “Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism: The Pancea for Niger Delta Agitations.” Just to mention but a few.

NICO Training School Abuja Study Centre in the 2016/2017 academic Session enrolled a total numbet of 23 students for the Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration programme; while a total number of seven (7) students enrolled for the Advanced Diploma in Cultural Administration programme. Other staff present at the project defence are: Mr Segun Adegbaju, Head of Cultural Affairs Unit, Mr Patrick Nwagbo Obi, Mr Oyewole Akanle and other NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre members of staff.

Mrs Theodora Okatta

Corporate Affairs Unit

NTS Abuja.