The CEO of Bush House Group, Mr. Michael Bush, aka, The Boss, has said that, he will lead staffers of the group to participate in the Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) programme in Cultural Administration, offered at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Training School, Abuja Study Centre, beginning from the next academic session.

Bush disclosed this on Thursday, 22 October, 2015 while giving a remark at the maiden edition of the Seminar on Cultural Diplomacy, organized by the course lecturer, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, who is also a Visiting Associate Professor at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, (NSUK), for postgraduate students and staffers to share knowledge gained during the programme.

According to him, NICO has done well in promoting Nigeria’s culture and should be encouraged by government, saying culture is said to be the totality of the way of life of man, yet the nation is here today because culture has not been given its place in the scheme of things.

Commenting on the presentations made during the seminar by the students, Bush who said the papers presented were filled with beautiful ideas, offered to serialize papers presented in the “Abuja Weekender”, a newspaper published by Bush House Media Limited, just as he offered to give a few students the opportunity to make their presentations on radio, using the platform of the Living Room of “Bush House Nigeria” on Kapital FM 92.9, Abuja as a way of encouraging the Institute to do more in sharing knowledge about our culture with the general public.

His words: “NICO needs to be encouraged to do more in giving people knowledge about our culture. Although many people don’t have a reading culture, NICO must learn how to take the message of culture to the people and we can reach them on radio. Over the next few editions, we can select presenters to come on radio and share with the world, what they presented here.”

Continuing, he said: “I should take advantage of what NICO is doing by enrolling for the PGD programme of NICO Training School as well as make it compulsory for my staffers. My Personal Assistant and I will enrol for the next session.”

Responding, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma expressed appreciation to Mr. Michael Bush for indicating interest to study under the platform of the NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, as well as giving it another platform to thrive, stressing that most of the presentations made will be edited and published in the next book he will be editing.

Other dignitaries present at the seminar presentations, which spanned two days, were Professor Mabel Evwierhoma (Uniabuja), Professor Emmanuel Dandaura (NSUK), Mrs. Lauretta Njoku (former DG, Nigerian Copyright Commission), Dr. Bridget Onochie (The Guardian), Mrs. Flora Goka (National Gallery of Art), as well as directors from NICO: Mr. Godson Ordu (Finance & Accounts), Prince Bamidele Olusa (Research & Documentation), Mr. Alex Omijie (Orientation & Cultural Affairs), Alhaji Ibrahim Husseini (Ag. Director, Admin & Human Resources), Mr. Law Ikay Ezeh (Dep. Director/SA to ES), and Dr. Regina Onuoha (Coordinator, NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre).

Caleb Nor

Corporate Affairs Unit

NICO, Abuja