The Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has been honoured by the Akwa-Ibom Community in Abuja, an award that is coming on the hills of the celebration, in Abuja recently, of the 25th Anniversary of the creation the State and 24 years existence of the association.
Speaking during a courtesy call, where he was formally decorated at the Institute’s headquarters in Abuja, the NICO helmsman said the award was unique and something to appreciate, given the fact that he was a Malabite, a graduate of the University of Calabar.
Ayakoroma acknowledged that the award was a challenge for NICO and his office to do more in mainstreaming culture for national integration and development.
He also informed the entourage that NICO is working toward partnering Akwa-Ibom State Government, to organise two major programmes in 2013, given the fact that the State Government, under the dynamic leadership Dr. Godswill Obot Akpabio, has really become a land of promise.
Concluding his remark, the NICO Boss used the forum to invite his guests to the forth-coming NICO Annual Public Lecture on Monday, 17th of December, 2012, at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
Earlie
r, the Vice President of Akwa-Ibom Community, Abuja, Akparawa Tommy Etim, lauded the giant strides of the Institute, under Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, especially in the area of media publicity and the promotion of the diverse and unique culture in the country.
Etim disclosed that the NICO Boss was carefully selected on merit among the awardees for his immense contributions in the culture sector, since his assumption of office. 
According to him, the Grand Celebration of Excellence and Akwa-Ibom @ 25, which took place in Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, on the 25th of September, 2012, was organized to honour Akwa-Ibom indigenes, friends, patriotic Nigerians and stakeholders, who have distinguished themselves in their different fields of endeavour to foster national unity.
In attendance during the courtesy call were the Director Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Festus Ihenetu; Director Research and Documentation, Mr. Louis Eriomola; Deputy Director/Special Assistant to the ES, Hon. Ebi Campbell, Deputy Director (Protocol), Mr. Alex Omijie, Assistant Director (Admin), Mrs. Jane Anigala, as well as Head of Corporate Affairs Unit, Hajiya Fatima Mustapha.
Njideka Dimgba
Corporate Affairs