The Executive Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Council of Kwara State, Alhaji Babatunde Akande Salami, has expressed his satisfaction with the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) given the volume of programmes and achievements recorded under the leadership of its Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, and indicated his readiness to partner the Institute.
Alhaji Salami, who disclosed this when the NICO North-Central Zone, Ilorin, enlightenment team led by the Zonal Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Lawal paid him a courtesy visit at the Local Government Headquarters, said this was the period the services of the Institute was mostly needed to awaken the cultural consciousness of people as the country is going through very trying moments in its daily existence.
He added that, he was not only happy that Share, the Headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Council, was chosen for the flag-off of the programme for reviving the use of indigenous language and promotion of our cultural heritage, but also that it was the country home of the Executive Governor of Kwara State, “the state of harmony,” Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.
According to him, the proposed Nigerian indigenous language debate in Yoruba – Igbomina dialect – was a welcome initiative that would bring succour to its speakers since the language had been facing domination.
Earlier, while intimating his host on what informed the visit of the sensitization team to the local government, the NICO Zonal Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Lawal said, it was one of the mandates of the Institute to orientate people on the threats to our cultural heritage such as language, cultural values, and so on, by executing programmes which includes debate in indigenous language.
Lawal explained that the indigenous language debate organised by the Institute among young ones was aimed at fostering unity, awakening cultural identity and national pride and solicited sponsorship of the local government and two others (Irepodun and Isin), where the dialect (Yoruba – Igbomina), is also spoken, adding that it is scheduled to come up in the month of May and will involve all secondary schools in the three local government areas.
It would be recalled that, the NICO North-Central Zone carried out a similar debate in Nupe language among secondary schools in Patigi and Edu Local Government Areas, as part of its indigenous language sensitization programme last year.
Also present during the visit were the Vice-Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Council, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Akanni, Head of Orientation and Cultural Affairs, NICO NCZ, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed, his Head of Corporate Affairs counterpart, Mr. Olaniyi Aweda, as well as Mr. Afolabi Lawal of the Zonal Coordinator’s Office.
Naseer Saeed Ategba & Ahmed Mohammed
NICO NCZ