The Executive Secretary of Enugu State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Izueke Eddy Okolo, has described the establishment of NICO Enugu State Office, as a promise fulfilled in the right direction in the administration of culture in the state.
Okolo stated this when he played host to a delegation of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Enugu State Office, led by the State Coordinator, Mr. Nnaemeka Nwajagu, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, to look at possible areas of collaboration.
The Executive Secretary, who described his office and NICO as brothers working in the same vineyard for the common purpose of serving the state, said the relationship was cordial and praised the management, headed by a guru and doyen in cultural administration, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, whom he also described as an eloquent speaker, a prolific writer, and a wonderful man.
Okolo further said: “NICO represents culture, advocacy, mobilization and training,” promising, on behalf of his council, to key into NICO programmes to enhance the realization of the collective mandate, adding that the Council will work with NICO to design a culture-based quiz challenge programme covering proverbs, dance, debate and presentation, for Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS), which will draw participants from secondary schools.
Earlier, the Head, Enugu State Office of NICO, Mr. Nnaemeka Nwajagu, had given an overview of the plan of action of the state office, noting that the visit was reciprocal, as the management of Enugu State Council for Arts Culture (ESCAC) had been the first government agency in the state to welcome staffers of the Institute to the Enugu State Office.
In his vote of thanks, the Chief Admin Officer, ESCAC, Mr. Emma Ude, expressed joy at the visit, saying that with the laudable programmes, NICO could not have come to Enugu at a better time like this, promising to facilitate the request to send cultural workers to NICO Training School, Lagos, for professional training programmes.
Kingsley Ngoka
Enugu State Office