As the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) works assiduously towards getting approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for its Diploma in Cultural Administration (DCA) programme, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, has urged the Institute to send a memo to the National Council on Establishment (NCE) for final approval and recognition of the certificate.

Stating this in her response to requests made by the Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Assoc. Prof. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, when he paid her a courtesy call at her office at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, Mrs. Oyo-Ita commended NICO for the visit.

The HOS also lauded the Institute for its effort in working towards realizing its mandate, especially the efforts of going to National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), describing it as an authentic endeavour.  

Her words: “I commend your efforts. I appreciate this visit. The presentation on the activities of NICO is quite loaded. The step you have taken in the Institute with NBTE is a step in the right direction. I commend it. It is the first step of approval and to have authenticity. All your requests are noted. I urge you to send a memo at the National Council on Establishment (NCE), the body with the Head of Service of every state of the federation, which can give the final approval. Culture is very important in Nigeria. Liaise with the Permanent Secretary, Career Management so that the area of collaboration and training will be looked into in addition to other requests you have made.”

Earlier in his remarks, the NICO ES highlighted the mandate, mission and vision of the Institute, its departmental and zonal structures, the development at the Training School Permanent Site in Kuje Area Council, as well as its programmes and activities.  

Emphasising on the Training School of the Institute, he told the HOS that it is a platform for graduates of other disciplines working in the culture sector, as the knowledge they obtain will help to strengthen them as culture workers, just as they can readily relate with current developments in the sector.

Informing the HOS that the Institute runs Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural administration programmes both in Lagos and Abuja, Prof. Ayakoroma appealed to the HOS, saying: “The certificates from NICO Training School need to be recognized by Establishment and used for promotions in the Civil Service. In addition, MDAs need to send in their staffers for training at the Institute. We need to collaborate with the Office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on relevant training and workshop programmes to harness Nigeria’s culture for sustainable development.”

Present with the Head of Service were the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, Mr. Christian Oha; Director, Special Duties, Mr. Olusade Adesola; SA Admin, Mr. Wilfred Ozadibe; PA Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Inyang Evong; while the ES NICO was accompanied by the Director, Admin and Human Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Husseini, Ag. Director, Research and Documentation, Mr. Mike Ekoko; SA to ES, Mr. Law Ikay Ezeh; and Assistant Director, Research and Documentation, Mrs. Maria Opuzor, among others.

Nwagbo Pat Obi

NICO Training School

Abuja Training Centre