The Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade (rtd), has said that the Ministry of Police Affairs is ready to partner National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), on the forthcoming National Conference on “Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen,” because maintenance of law and order is the major concern of the police and that traditional rulers and local government chairmen are key to ameliorating the security challenges in Nigeria.

Stating this when the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, paid him a Courtesy Visit in his office, Navy Capt. Olubolade said the partnership was important because the Ministry needs the Institute more than the Institute needs the Ministry.

The Minister, who commended the choice of theme for the conference, said: “the conference is very important. The role of traditional rulers and local government chairmen is very important to our national security. They will help to bring the menace of bombing and criminality in the country under control.”

Continuing, he added that the Ministry, apart from partnering NICO, will give the apex cultural Institute full support, saying: “Security is our concern and we are happy when it is being given support. So, we will support you financially. We will surely look at your requests and give you the deserved support. We will surely work together with NICO to face the security challenges in Nigeria.”

Earlier in his brief, Dr. Ayakoroma had highlighted the mandate of NICO, even as he stressed on the importance of the forthcoming conference and the personalities that had been invited, adding that the event comes up between the 7th and 8th of May, 2012, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

He said:  “It is in line with our mandate that we are organizing this programme with concern to peace and security, and we see the need to bring the traditional rulers and local government chairmen to let them know their roles, hence the theme Culture, Peace and National Security in Nigeria: The Role of Local Government Chairmen and Traditional Rulers.”

According to him, it is because of the importance of the conference that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, will declare it open, while former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, will be the Chairman of the occasion.

He added that the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, will deliver the keynote address, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, will be the Royal father of the day, just as the Minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, will be the chief host.

Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs