The Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has disclosed that Gombe State Government is partnering the Institute in hosting the next edition of the National Media Workshop for Arts Writers & Editors, in recognition of the giant strides the present management has recorded in actualising the Institute’s mandate.

Stating this during a welcome dinner organized by the Mrs. Chioma Duru-led South East Zonal office of the Institute, to welcome management and staff to Owerri for the Management Retreat, the ES said the Media Workshop is scheduled for 9th and 10th February, 2012.

Dr. Ayakoroma said well-meaning Nigerians have been noticing the tireless efforts of the apex Cultural Institute in harnessing Nigerian culture for national development, hence the positive response for the various requests made by the Institute, noting that Akwa Ibom and Kwara States have also approved, in principle, the hosting of subsequent Media Workshops.

The ES posited: “I have always said that posting a member of staff in any of our offices is not a punishment the way most people think. We are all in NICO to serve. We have paid for our office in Enugu State and in Ibadan, Oyo State. Our Media Workshop is coming up in Gombe State…. It is due to the efforts we are making through our programmes. So people respond to our requests. That is why we are here to synergize and plan how to move forward.”

This is coming just as the newly appointed Director-General, Rivers State Carnival & Tourism Development Agency (RSCTDA), Mr. Sam Achibi Dede, commended Dr. Ayakoroma for his exemplary leadership qualities and taking NICO to a new pedestal.

Meanwhile, the next two-today National Quarterly Media Workshop for Arts Writers & Editors comes up in the Banquet Hall, Gombe State University, Gombe, with the State Commissioner for Information, Rev. Habu Dawaki, as the Chairman.

The theme of the workshop is: “Sustainable Culture and Tourism, promotion in Nigeria’s Democracy: The Imperative for the Media,” and veteran arts journalist, Ben Tomoloju, and former Commissioner for Information, Yobe State, Alhaji Goni Fika, will be resource persons.

Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs