The Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Distinguished Senator Matthew Urhoghide, has promised that the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism will support strategies suggested by stakeholders for the repositioning of Nigerian Indigenous Language Newspapers.
Stating this on Monday, 15th May, 2017, at Arewa House, Kaduna, as chairman, at the opening ceremony of the Annual Round Table on Cultural Orientation (ARTCO), organized by National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Senator Urhoghide, who was represented by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Barr. Neda Imasuen, explained that this is imperative because Indigenous Language Newspapers help to preserve and promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
The lawmaker extolled the commitment of publishers, editors and staffers of Indigenous Language Newspapers in Nigeria at the event, which had the theme, Indigenous Language Newspapers and National Development, saying many of them have continued to publish even in the midst of numerous challenges.
Calling on all hands to be on deck in order to ensure that Indigenous Language Newspapers are sustained in Nigeria, Senator Urhoghide said: “The Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism would support the plans and the strategies geared towards the repositioning of Indigenous Language Newspapers in Nigeria. This is very important because Indigenous Language Newspapers do not only serve as veritable tool for information dissemination but promotes Nigerian cultural values.”
Continuing, he commended the Management of NICO and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture for organizing the programme, describing it as a wonderful initiative, especially when the event focused on Indigenous Language Newspapers that have been contributing a lot to national development but had receive minimal acknowledgements.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, lauded National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, for organising the round table, saying the sustenance of Nigerian Indigenous Languages is something that needs to be supported by all and sundry.
Governor El-Rufai said Kaduna State Government will do everything possible to support indigenous language newspapers in the state, as their contribution to the sensitisation of the citizenry towards state policies and programmes are invaluable and cannot be over-emphasised.
The Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, NICO, Mr. Alex Omijie, in his vote of thanks, commended all the dignitaries and participants, who made out time to attend the event despite their busy schedules, explaining that ARTCO has provided opportunities for the stakeholders of culture to gather to discuss various aspects of Nigerian culture.
He said through the sub-themes, the participants will gain a lot from the programme; and further urged them to transform all they will learn in the technical section into practice to enhance national development
Nwagbo Pat Obi
NICO Training School
Abuja Study Centre