The Coordinator, NICO Minna State Office, Mrs. Funke Ndukwe, has stressed the need for Nigerians to promote the country’s non-material culture, particularly language, which could be seen as the most viable aspect of a people’s non-material culture.
Mrs. Ndukwe, who stated this at the closing ceremony of the 4th edition of Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP), at the office premises located at UK Bello Arts Theatre, Minna, Niger State, urged the participants to make use of the languages they were taught in every place they find themselves.
She also appreciated the participants, especially those from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), advising them to always speak the languages they learnt in the programme with their colleagues and use the local dialects to educate motorists and road users, as it will foster understanding among them.
In her goodwill message, the Sector Commander, FRSC, Minna, represented by the Head of Operations, DCC Nma Magana, appreciated NICO’s effort in preserving and encouraging the use of Nigerian languages in the country, further encouraging the use of tribal names by people for easy identification.
The FRSC Sector Commander urged the participants and Nigerians at large to shun the patronage of Western materials and embrace the use of indigenous materials, as it will improve the economic viability of the nation.
Also speaking, the Assistant Marketing Manager, NTA Minna, Mrs. Maryam Abdulsalam, who was also a participant at the NILP, showered praises on the management of NICO for giving people the opportunity to learn Nigerian indigenous languages, promising to air the programme on NTA Minna for NICO free.
Mrs. Abdulsalam also urged the Institute to collaborate with relevant media organizations for them to adequately publicize the programme to encourage more participants to attend the subsequent programmes.
Furthermore, Mrs. Eunice Akaayor, who was the overall best participant and also an officer of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), called for private sponsorship of the programme and urged NICO Minna not to depend on government fund to organize it, saying that the programme should be taken to the doorsteps of other organizations.
The HOD, Admin & Human Resources, NICO Minna, Mrs. Iorapuu Grace, shed light on the importance of learning other people’s language, saying that this was in order to foster unity, harmony and peaceful co-existence among people of diverse ethnic groups to maintain a one-Nigeria.
In his vote of thanks, the HOD, Orientation & Cultural Affairs, NICO Minna, Mallam Sidi Galadima, who was represented by Mallam Yakubu Akoshi, appreciated the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, for organizing the programme with utmost support to the resource persons and the participants.
He advised the participants to keep speaking the languages they had learnt during the four (4) weeks exercise and not to relent in encouraging other people to participate in the subsequent editions, also using the medium to announce the sales of forms for the NICO Training School programmes at Lagos and Abuja offices, respectively.
The programme featured recitation, drama, and presentation of certificates and gifts to the participants by the State Coordinator, Mrs. Funke Ndukwe.
Saidu Ibrahim Musa
NICO, Minna