The Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has said that if Nigerians can consider the cultural dimension towards tackling the problem of peace and security, the nation can sustain peace in its local and urban communities.

Ayakoroma, who said this during a press briefing ahead of the NICO 2-Day National Conference on Culture Peace and National Security, observed that security is ımperatıve for any country to move forward.

 

Accordıng to hım, now that Nigeria ıs facing various security challenges, there is need for key institutions to look at the cultural potentials of restructuring our security system, stressing that NICO, through the National Conference, will be providing a platform for the nation to dialogue and proffer lasting solutions to the issue of insecurity in the country.

The conference, wıth the theme: “Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen,” scheduled for 7th-8th May, 2012, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, is expected to be declared open by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR), while former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is the Chaırman of the occasion.

The NICO boss ınformed that the Chıef Servant of Nıger State, His Excellency, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, will present the keynote paper, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, mnı, will be the Royal Father of the day, whıle the Honourable Mınıster for Culture, Tourısm and Natıonal Orıentatıon, Chıef Edem Duke, wıll be the Chıef Host.


Justifying the choice of target audience for the conference, Ayakoroma maintained that, “Back in the days, security in our various communities was the business of our traditional rulers. We knew ourselves. The traditional ruler knew everybody including the family of the bad boys in the community and if anything happened, there was always that security network through which such perpetrators where brought to book.”

“The Local Government Chairmen, as the people who are in charge of the third tier of government, also have a strategic role to play. So, there has to be a synergy between the Local Government Chairmen and our Traditional Rulers to ameliorate the security situation in our communities,” he said.

He maıntaıned that Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen are better placed to take practical steps in ameliorating the security challenges confronting the nation but regretted that the expected roles of these key Institutions in tackling the menace of insecurity in the country is no more in place, hence the step taken by the Institute to sensitize them to their roles.

Ayakoroma said the conference is very important to the nation, stressing that once Nigeria can sustain peace in her communities, development can take place and the problems associated with the decay of our cultural practices will be checked.

With the array of notable experts assembled as resource persons to explore the cultural dimension of tackling security, the ES believes that a working document will be presented to Government at the end of the conference, whıch ıf studıed and ımplemented, wıll go a long way ın amelioratıng the security situation in the country.

Caleb Nor
Corporate Affairs