The Honourable Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, has endorsed the NICO Two-Day National Conference on “Culture, Peace and National Security: The Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen,” scheduled to hold in Abuj,a on 7th-8th May, 2012, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, assuring that the Ministry will support the Institute.

Comrade Moro gave the assurance in Abuja, on Thursday, May 3, 2012, when the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, to formally intimate him of the Institute’s Two-Day National Conference.

The Minister said that his resolve to support, cooperate and collaborate with NICO on the conference, is informed by its timeliness, saying, “I have actually agreed to collaborate with you to underscore the importance of your conference and to say that it is very auspicious and apt at this time in the life of this country. You are aware that in recent times, there have been clamours for the involvement of traditional rulers to secure peace for Nigeria.”

Expressing worry that Nigerians have lost touch with our cultural values, which bound us together, the Minister regretted that the nation is rather moving into different ways of life that are alien to our culture, noting that insecurity has become prevalent in recent times despite the common knowledge that one of the greatest impediments to Nigeria’s continued existence and development is insecurity.

Further decrying the alarming rate of insecurity in the country, notwithstanding various tactics and steps already taken by government to tackle the menace, Comrade Moro expressed optimism that the NICO Conference will enable Nigerians to reflect on the life of the nation to enable us go back to the basics and get to the root cause of the problems and proffer solutions.

He commended the management of NICO in their efforts to bring stakeholders together, to tackle the issue of insecurity in Nigeria culturally and expressed hope that the combined efforts of government and agencies, like NICO, will result to a peaceful Nigeria, so that the Transformation Agenda of the present administration that seeks to move Nigeria to the next level, will flourish, thereby enabling the country to develop at an appreciable rate.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, said that sustainable peace and security can be achieved in the country through the cultural perspective, stressing that the National Conference is very important in the history of Nigeria, especially now that the issue of peace and security is on the front burner.

Ayakoroma disclosed that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is expected to declare the conference open while former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, mni, will be chairman, keynote speaker, and Royal Father of the day respectively, just as the Honourable Minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, will be the Chief Host of the occasion.

The NICO Boss also presented copies of the Institute’s In-House publication “NICO News” as well as copies of his personal creative works to the Honourable Minister, who expressed delight receiving them.

On the entourage of the ES were the Director, Administration and Human Resources, Barrister Abayomi Oyelola, mni, Director of Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Festus Ihenetu, Assistant Director (Protocol), Mr. Alex Omijie, Mrs. Jane Anigala, Hajiya Fatima Mustafa, and Alhaji Ndaman, among others.

Caleb Nor
Corporate Affairs