New intakes into the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) for the 2017/2018 Academic Session were on Monday February 19, 2018 inducted for Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma programmes in Cultural Administration.
The Induction/Orientation ceremony which took place inside Lecture Hall 1 of NICO Training Complex, National Theatre Annex, Lagos was organized to sensitize fresh students to the activities of NICO training school and the rules and regulations governing the programme.
On behalf the Ag. Executive Secretary of NICO, Mr. Louis Eriomala, the new students were warmly received by Director, training school, Mrs. Brigitte Rupmicit Yerima who, in her Welcome Address to the students, reiterated the commitment of NICO to train qualified Nigerians to become competent cultural officers.
The School’s Director spoke of the proud history of NICO training school which started in 2008 and explained that since the school is fully affiliated to Nasarawa State University (NSUK), successful graduates of the School can now pursue a Master’s Degree in Cultural Administration from NSUK.
The Director further advised the fresh students to acquaint themselves with the School’s “Doing our Business” publication; a code of conduct booklet for NICO Students. The code of conduct for students provides detailed information to students on rules and regulations governing their stay as NICO students.
The Head of NICO Liaison Office in Lagos, Ms. Vick Overo, who also spoke during the occasion, is convinced that NICO training school is a premium place to learn Nigerian culture. Having undertaken the Postgraduate Diploma of this school at some point in her public service career, Ms. Overo strongly recommends NICO cultural training to the new students because of its numerous benefits.
The fresh students were also informed by Ms. Oby Nnaka, Head of Academic Unit, on how to maximize the use of the School’s library and other Academic resources readily available to NICO students. She emphasized that field school, research work and continuous assessment of students are partial fulfilments of the requirements for every NICO student who wishes to graduate from NICO Training School.
The Students Affairs Officer of the school, Mr. Folunsho Ajayi, enjoined the incoming students to always abide by the rules and regulations of the school, to be security conscious and constantly show good character expected of cultural officers. Dressing properly and being punctual to lectures are parts of the good character expected from a cultural officer, he stated.
Concluding the brief talk session with the students during the occasion, Ms. Josephine Salami, Head, Administration Unit of the school, espoused that, in addition to already stated guidelines, where a student needs to be out of school for a good reason, such student must obtain a proper permission from the appropriate authority, and that is the administration unit of NICO training school.
Thereafter and amidst light refreshment, there was a Questions and Answers session. The questions from some newly inducted students notably from the Centre for Black and African Arts Culture, NICO, Bayelsa and a self-sponsored student from a private organization sought answers to issues like hostel accommodation, duration of the Cultural Administration programme, and the nature of cultural research work carried out by the school. These were satisfactorily answered by the Director of NICO Training School.
Lectures for new and returning students of NICO training school will start in earnest from Tuesday February 20, 2018.
Corporate Affairs Unit
NICO Training School, Lagos