The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Chairman, NAFEST 2016 Local Working Committee, Hon. Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok, has commended the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) under the leadership of Associate Prof. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, for its positive impacts in the culture industry in Nigeria.
Hon. Ibiok stated this on Thursday, 6th October, 2016, at Ibom Hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, when he led a team that visited the NICO Stand at the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2016, being hosted by the Government of Akwa Ibom State.
The Commissioner noted that the books he saw at the NICO Stand have made him to believe more in NICO as a Cultural Institute, adding that he was aware of the role NICO has been playing in promoting Nigerian languages through its indigenous language programmes.
He prayed that the NICO Nigerian indigenous languages programme (NILP) should be extended to all the states in Nigeria even as he remarked that indigenous language is a tool that can enhance national unity and peaceful co-existence.
The Honourable Commissioner also supervised the winning painting and drawing entry work of a 13years old boy, Abrarahanan Saheed, from Lagos State.
NAFEST 2016, with the theme, “Exploring the Goldmine inherent in Nigeria’s Creative Industry”, was a great event that featured presentations from different parts of the country, who came to participate and display the arts and cultural works of their state.
National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) was among the Federal agencies present at the event, and had in its stand relevant books on Cultural Administration, Leadership, Cultural Diplomacy, Education as well as Theatre Arts and other related fields.
Participants found the books very educative and were excited that cultural books were now within reach, which signified growth in the industry
Some of the participants that visited the NICO stand to check and buy books included, the Director (Culture), Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. John Offiong; Director, Delta State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Napoleon Akpobecha; Abdullahi Jahum of Bauchi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and a host of other participants.
Clifford Ugwu
NICO SSZ