The last day of the first semester examinations of NICO Training School in 2011 would not go by as any other exam day as the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays  Foubiri Ayakoroma, made an unexpected but calm entrance into the Examination Halls, discreetly checking the students’ questions and answer sheets, supervising the sitting arrangements and alertness of scheduled invigilators, making sure the atmosphere is conducive for maximum concentration of students, and most importantly, ensuring that integrity of the strictly conducted examinations is not compromised at all.

A thorough bred academician himself, it was very clear, by words and actions, that the leader of this Federal Government Institute is focused on the vision to make it the apex and leading cultural training institution in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examinations, observing that the sitting arrangement showed that the academic staff were serious enough to ensure that there were no forms of malpractice.

In his reaction, the Director of the Training School, Mr. Itapah I. Azuobu, appreciated the Executive Secretary for finding time to surprise the students as they write their examinations. He further intimated the ES that the strict conduct of the examination is a reflection of the academic drill received by the students from the lecturers, and assured that the Training School is on course to produce qualitative and competent cultural officers that will be the pride of the nation.

Academic staff of the Training School who were on hand to make clarifications on some observations made by the Executive Secretary and members of his entourage include the Deputy Director/Head of Academic Unit, Dr. Dipo Kalejaiye, and the Assistant Director/Head of Registry Unit, Mr. Lawal Ibrahim.

In the Executive Secretary’s team were the Deputy Director/Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Mr. Ebi Nelson Campbell, Assistant Director, Protocol, Mr. Alex Omije and the PA to the ES, Mr. Ebi Asene.

It will be recalled that the first semester examinations of the 2010/2011 session of the NICO Training School commenced on Monday, June 20, 2011, with students of the Diploma in Cultural Administration programme; while the examinations of the Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration started on Monday, June 27, 2011. The examinations were successfully concluded on July 1st, 2011.

The Training School of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) runs a Diploma Course programme in Cultural Administration (DCA) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Administration (PGDCA). Each of these two programmes runs for twelve (12) calendar months with two semesters for course work.  While the Diploma programme is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge of cultural administration and enhance performance in the work environment, the Postgraduate Diploma programme provides a platform for HND and University graduates to become confident cultural officers that would be well-positioned for a career in the culture and tourism sector.

The ES visit to the NICO Training School was made last week Friday, July 1, 2011, shortly before his scheduled engagement as the Chief Host of the Inauguration of NICO Cultural Clubs in Schools, which took place in the Cinema Hall 1 of the National Arts Theatre, Lagos.

Anthony Okafor

NICO Training School