Press Release
NICO Lauds Onyeama, Airpeace On Cultural Outlook Of Cabin Crew
The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has commended Airpeace Airline for the use of Nigerian cultural attire by its crew members, stating that it is in line with the Institute’s new national orientational drive that stresses the need for Nigerians to take pride in our dress culture.
Executive Secretary/CEO of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye made this known in Abuja while reacting to rising criticisms against the Airline’s choice of an Igbo attire “Isi Agu” as dress code for its crew members during the recent launch of its Lagos to London flight.
Allen Onyema’s Airpeace Boeing 777 commenced its inaugural direct flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to Gatwick Airport, London on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Rather than congratulate him and his entire team for achieving such a feat which comes with some form of relief, considering the airline’s unbeatable fare that is already creating a healthy competition amongst airlines, some unpatriotic elements saw it as an opportunity to criticize him along tribal lines.
As the cultural orientation agency that is responsible for mobilizing all Nigerians towards a culture-oriented lifestyle, NICO is of the view that such a milestone will not only give Nigerians a sense of belonging but also help in repositioning our cultural image before the international community towards building a cultural identity for Nigeria.
Apart from promoting our cultural image, our indigenous dress culture also creates a pathway that will distinguish us as a people in our quest for a national identity. Our dress culture helps to create a cultural identity which is a sin-qua-non to national identity. The Institute therefore uses this opportunity to call on all well-meaning Nigerians to rekindle interest and pride in our indigenous dress patterns in a way that will promote our unity in diversity.
Meanwhile, the Institute has also drawn the attention of airlines operating in the country on the need for inclusion of cultural content using indigenous languages for onboard announcement while offering air transport services. The use of our local languages for announcement will not only give indigenous passengers a sense of belonging but help them to better absorb and assimilate the information contained in the announcement.
This move is in line with the Institute’s new cultural orientational drive to re-enact Nigeria’s cultural values in the citizenry towards repositioning and promoting the nation’s cultural image.
Caleb Nor
Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary/CEO
NICO