The Honourable Commissioner, Enugu State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ozo Joe O. Mmamel, has expressed his profound gratitude to the management of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), under Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, for locating a State Office in Enugu, describing the Institute as a big brother in the culture sector in Nigeria.
Ozo Mmamel, who stated this when he received the Coordinator, NICO Enugu State Office, Mr. Nwajagu Nnaemeka, on a courtesy visit, in his office, lauded NICO for fulfilling the request, and that the presence of the State Office was already being felt.
The Commissioner said it was unfortunate that culture had been seen as all about dance and drama, noting that the background of everything is necessary to build upon for its sustenance, and stressed the need for wider participation for people to understand that culture is not fetish as is being misconstrued in certain quarters.
According to him, there was need to remove the bad aspects of culture which hamper its smooth administration in our society, and admonished that there was need to revive the old to make it new, as countries the world over guide their culture, promote and improve on them for tourist attraction.
He promised that his ministry will join hands with NICO Enugu to realize the mandate for the harnessing of the rich culture of Enugu people, assuring that the ministry will partner NICO in most of their programmes, especially in the upcoming “Nkwalite Asusu Igbo na Omenala,” which is the promotion of Igbo Language and Cultural Exposition of the South-East, to be hosted by Enugu State.
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Earlier, the Coordinator, NICO Enugu State Office, Mr. Nnaemeka Nwajagu, had briefed the Honourable Commissioner on the programmes and activities of the Institute, and that the team had come to synergize with the ministry in some programmes for mutual benefits.
Members of staff of the NICO Enugu State Office in the delegation were, Mr. Okezie Austine, Mr. Tony Chukwu, Miss Enwere Precious, Mr. Emenike Ifeanyi, Mr. Otobo Frank, and Mr. Chris Ordu.
Kingsley Ngoka
Enugu State Office