The Abuja Head office of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), is lately, a bee-hive of activities as the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma receives in audience, more than enough courtesy calls from different groups in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory to express their willingness to partner with the Institute in rebranding Nigeria from cultural perspectives.
 
A Delegation from Abuja Chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), is one such group. During the visit, Dr. Seyi Adigun, Chairman ANA (Abuja Chapter), lauded the efforts and commendable achievements of Dr. B.F. Ayakoroma, Executive Secretary so far within his short stay in office. He said NICO and ANA have been working together in recent time because of their common goal of promoting the culture of their fatherland, Nigeria.
 
He further explained that, this partnership would help in promoting Nigerian indigenous languages such as Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba among others. Sighting instances, the Chairman decried the situation where a Nigerian graduate could not write in his/her indigenous language, describing it as “unfortunate and disappointing”. “For the benefit of the future, foreign languages should be taught alongside with indigenous languages”, he submitted.
 
Using ANA’s “Work-plan Sheet” to buttress his claims, he solicited the Institute’s assistance in its bid to setting up a befitting office soonest, emphasising in the areas of furnishing and other office mementoes. Dr. Seyi Adigun also used the forum to invite the NICO ES to attend ANA’s Convention slated for August. He promised to support NICO in any area it would find ANA fit to achieve effective result in its programmes.
 
Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, who is a pioneer member of the body, did not hide his ecstasy in finding potential allies in the Abuja Chapter of ANA, to further stretching the Institute’s frontiers in its orientation drive, especially in its “Indigenous Language Programmes”. He expressed delight over the organization’s interest in promoting Nigeria’s culture and pledged to support and forge stronger ties with ANA in this direction.
 
The climax of the Courtesy call was on exchanges. While the ANA Executives made a Presentation of … the NICO CEO presented copies of two of his works: “Dance On His Grave” and “A Matter Of Honour” to the Abuja ANA Chapter Library.
 
Prince Jerry Adesewo, Secretary; Mrs. Joy Okoduwa, Treasurer; Barr. Ahmed Maiwada, Legal Adviser, and Ms. Ameh Teresa, Ex-Officio and immediate Past-Vice Chairman were part of the team to NICO.

Gillowei James (Snr.)
Media Asst. to the ES.