The only way the superiority of indigenous culture would take precedence over foreign culture in Nigeria is when Nigerian cultural values are made to remain indelible in the minds of the youths.
To actualize this, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), took its cultural campaign to Secondary Schools in the North Eastern Nigeria, where the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, stated that activities which promote foreign culture at the expense of indigenous ones should be discouraged.
The event which took place recently at Sale Michika Mult-Purpose Hall, Government Girls Secondary School, Yola, Adamawa State, had many secondary schools in the State in attendance. Also, principals and staff of many schools with major stakeholders in the culture sector were present. Some of the personalities at the programme were the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports, Culture and Tourism, Adamawa State, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Abba Jimeta, represented by the Director, Culture, Mr. Sylvanus Papka, Commissioner for Education, Hon. Gabriel Hamma’adama, represented by an Assistant Director, Mrs. Aisha Alice Usman, and the General Manager, Adamawa Television (ATV), Alhaji Ahmad Usman Dadah, among others.
Dr. Ayakoroma, who was represented by the NICO Zonal Coordinator, North-East Zone, Mallam Ismai’la Ahmad, said NICO made students the target of the clubs because when our indigenous culture is inculcated in them at their tender age, it will remain in them till they grow old.
Contending that the moment they develop the habit towards Nigerian culture at the young age, they will not deviate from it, the ES urged students to “take pride in Nigerian indigenous culture, so that you will not be influenced by foreign culture. We have established the NICO Cultural Clubs to inculcate the rich and cherished cultural values of Nigeria in you. You must make sure they remain in you till old age.”
The Chairman of the event, Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports, Culture and Tourism, Adamawa State, Alhaji Jimeta, who corroborated the views of the NICO boss, called on the students to take bold steps and initiatives that will make them appreciate and encourage Nigerian cultural values as youths.
On his part, the Commissioner for Education, Adamawa State, Hon. Hamma’adama, commended NICO for the cultural campaign which, he noted, will restore back Nigerian cultural values that are fast eroding.
The General Manager, Adamawa Television (ATV), Alhaji Dadah, who was the Guest Lecturer, counselled students to “take advantage of the club to imbibe the core cultural values like respect for elders and constituted authorities, honesty, and hard work, as all these will make them better Nigerian citizens.”
Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs