The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has been given an Institutional Award by the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) for its contribution towards the growth of as well as Arts and Culture in Nigeria.

Announcing the award at the closing ceremony of the Society’s 24th Annual Conference at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Victor Dugga, who anchored the event with Salihu Bappa, said NICO had continuously supported SONTA activities, noting that the support has been by way of financial and moral commitment to the highest professional Association for all Theatre Lecturers, Academics and Theorists in Nigeria: “In terms of support to SONTA, NICO is worth commending. The Institute has also joined SONTA in promotion of the Theatre, Arts and Culture in Nigeria. For these contribution, SONTA has deemed it wise to give NICO Institutional Award alongside other Institutions that are doing well like NICO.”

The award, which was presented by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, the chairman of the event and a member of SONTA Board of Trustees, was received on behalf by the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, by Mr. Nwagbo Nnenyelike, a staff of the Institute.

SONTA also inducted many individuals into its Hall of Fame, including, Professor Julie Okoh, Mallam Saddik Balewa, Professor Sam Kafewo, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, Dr. Christopher Iyimoga, Dr. Alex Asigbo, Dr. Emmanuel Ogo-Ochi, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun and Mr. Segun Oyekunle, with Life Time Achievement Awards.

Professor Chris Nwamuo of the University of Calabar was awarded Fellow of SONTA, while Professor Abdullahi Mustapha (VC, ABU) and Mohammed Egye (Director, Nasarawa State Council for Arts & Culture) were awarded with SONTA 2011 Award of Excellence.

Professor Brian Crow, Professor Michael Etherton, Professor Onookome Okome, and Mr. Tony Humphries were decorated with SONTA 2011 Honourary Life Members; while post humous awards were conferred on Associate Professor Steve Ogunsuyi and Mrs. Bunmi Julius Adeoti.

Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs