The Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute For Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mallam Ado Muhammed Yahuza, has stated that the institute’s mandate has the potential of promoting Nigeria’s culture into international limelight.
He stated this, while giving audience to 400 level students of Art Administration, from the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja, who were on a courtesy visit to the Institute’s Head office, Abuja on Tuesday 31st October, 2023.
The ES, while addressing the students stated that, NICO was established by the Decree 93 of 1993, as a result of the United Nations World Decade for Cultural Development (WDCD) 1988-1997, which emphasized cultural promotion, with the sole purpose of harnessing culture for national development.
Speaking further, Yahuza noted that Nigeria, as a multi-ethnic nation, has diverse cultures, which if harnessed properly is an asset to the development of the nation. ‘Our various cultural indigenous languages, dresses, cuisines, music and dance, are resources God has endowed us with, and no country in Africa has these cultural diversities’ he said.
In addition, the ES stated that the researching and promotion of Nigeria’s culture, is not only capable of projecting Nigeria’s cultural potentials into international limelight but also has the ability to unite the diverse nationalities internally.
He informed that NICO is achieving its mandate through the various operational departments in the institute, namely; Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Research and Documentation and the NICO Training School. These operational arms of the institute, synergizes in carrying out public orientation lectures, workshops and seminars where the proceedings of these programs forms part of the communique forwarded to government and policy makers to be inculcated in the development agenda of the country, as the institute’s contribution towards national development.
On his part, while addressing the statements, the Director, Research and Documentation, Mr. Michael Ikoko, informed that the department is responsible for documenting all the researched cultural materials of the institute and through its library unit, stores, NICO’s over 40 published books and other purchased publications for the use of other researchers and NICO audience.
In the same vein, the Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Segun Adegbaju, enumerated programs like, the NICO children cultural fiesta, NICO culture club in secondary schools, NICO indigenous language training programme, where the institute uses, as platforms to reach out to Nigerians, both young and old, to teach them our culture, traditions and heritage, which help promotes our cultural diversities and community cohesion. He noted that the purpose of these efforts is to preserve Nigeria’s culture.
Also addressing the students, the Director, Human Resource Management, Alhaji Ibrahim Hussaini, noted that the department synergizes with other departments by providing support and a conducive working environment like, identifying staff training needs for relevant knowledge and skills development.
The students, on their part, interacted with the management of the institute by asking questions on the various aspects of the institute’s operations; made inquiry about the procedures to gaining admission into the NICO Training School and about who the Resource Persons of the Training School are.
In her vote of thanks, the Coordinating Lecturer in charge of Art Administration, department of Theatre Arts Department, University of Abuja, Dr, Yacin Rosyln, appreciated the NICO ES/CEO, Ado Yahuza and his Management Team, whom she commended for receiving her and her students as kings and queens as well as giving them adequate information about the Institute much more than they bargained for.
She noted that, they are looking forward to building a beneficial relationship with NICO, and prays that God will keep the Institute to continue to contribute its quota to the cultural development of Nigeria.
Manya Lar;
Sarah Dandaura
Corporate Affairs