The South-West Zonal Head of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Ohi Ojo, has commended the authorities of Calvary International College, Akure, Ondo State, for the efforts geared toward emphasizing the importance of culture in the school’s curriculum.
Mr. Ojo, who stated this, Friday, 21st March, 2014, at the maiden edition of the school’s Culture Day held in its premises at Calvary Lane, Oda Road, Akure, noted that it was a good foundation the authorities of the school were laying for the students and that it would ensure they turned out to be well-cultured, good leaders in future.
He added that it was now common for family members to go to the law courts or report cases to police, saying it was as a result of loss of touch with our basic cultural institutions, which usually makes room for amicable settlement of cases without degenerating into full blown crises.
According to him, several traditional palaces hold sessions where civil cases are heard and mostly resolved without rancor, unlike when such cases are taken to the police and law courts by family members.
Earlier in her address, the Proprietress of the School, Pastor (Mrs.) Grace Ereola Orimoloye, announced that Calvary International College, Akure, Ondo State, was making history by organising the maiden edition of her Cultural Day, as part of, “the exercise to resuscitate our endangered culture and its valued heritage.”
She said parents had a role to play in bringing back our value system; while the school as a social institution can only build on existing values and correct those conducts that negate societal ethics, and enjoined religious leaders and government to join in the crusade as it was a collective effort.
The school proprietress lamented that presently, in the school curricula, none of the Nigerian indigenous languages was compulsory and wondered how children would appreciate their culture in that type of situation.
Highlights of the event were cultural dance display of different ethnic groups within and outside the state, including traditional dances from Ekiti State, Hausa, Akure and Ikale communities in Ondo state; as well as traditional local games, theatrical performances on Yoruba traditional marriage engagement (igbeyawo), moonlight tales, and a eulogy on the creator of heaven (Olodumare), presented commendably by Master Adeniyi Oluwajuwon.
In company of the Zonal Head to the event were the Head, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Ruth Oyenekan, Personal Assistant to the Zonal Head, Mrs. Ogechi Nwokorie and Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Anakpoha Ogaga.
Ogaga Anakpoha
Corporate Affairs
NICO, SWZ