The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Niger State, Mrs. Adishatu Susan Gana, has called for the establishment of a NICO Training Centre in the state, in line with the Vision 3:2020 of the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.
Mrs. Gana made this call recently during a courtesy visit to her office in Minna, Niger State capital, by NICO Niger State Coordinator, Mrs. Funke Ndukwe, saying the programme of NICO Training School, Lagos, is one of the best things happening in Cultural sector.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Deborah Salawu, the Commissioner commended the Institute, saying the Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Cultural Administration offered at the NICO Training School are not only laudable but essential for civil servants in the ministry.
She expressed confidence that as a state, which ranks among the first three economically viable states in Nigeria, Niger State will be wil
ling to partner organizations that are vibrant in the area of grassroots sensitization and mobilization, and urged NICO to come up with the scheme and syllabus for the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme, stressing that there is need to encourage the people to speak, read and write in their indigenous languages.
She further charged the NICO State office to liaise with other government agencies, such as the Local Government Service Commission and Niger State Council for Arts and Culture, in order to gain relevance and acceptability.
Earlier, the NICO Niger State Coordinator, Mrs. Funke Ndukwe, expressed her appreciation to the Ministry for the progress it had made in the safeguarding of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Nigeria and the people of Niger
State in particular, saying that it was evident in the remarkable achievements recorded by the Ministry, especially in the area of creative culture.
She highlighted the programmes that NICO will be organizing in the State to include, the establishment of Cultural Clubs in Schools, Workshop for Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen, Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP), Research and Documentation of Traditional Festivals, as well as the Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma programmes in Cultural Administration offered at the NICO Training School, Lagos, and that the State Office will need the support of the ministry.
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