Members of the House Committee on Culture and Tourism, on Thursday, June 21, 2012, visited the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Headquarters located at No. 23, Kigoma Street, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, in continuation of their Oversight Functions, stating that the Institute is strategically placed to play a vital role in the emancipation of Nigerians because of the progress and efforts it has made so far and is still making in harnessing Nigerian culture.

The Team Leader of the Hon. Ben Nwankwo-led Committee, Hon. Muniru Abiodun Hakeem, who made this observation based on the improvement NICO has made after the Committee’s last Oversight visit, commended the Management, under the leadership of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, saying that the Institute had really moved to the next level through its cultural orientation programmes.

Asserting that culture will serve as the impetus for checking the problems of corruption, incessant bombings, sectarian crises and religious violence in Nigeria, Hon. Hakeem said: “Culture will play a vital role in the emancipation of Nigeria from all these problems and NICO, through its activities, is very important and will play a great role in this regard. I have really observed that from our last visit to this present one for oversight functions, NICO has moved forward. There are a lot of improvements in the ambience of your office. It has shown that you are working seriously to leave NICO better than you met it. We are really seeing and feeling the impact. You are prepared to take Nigeria to the next level through culture. That is why I once more commend your efforts for your consistency and belief in the Kuje Training School project. Despite the nature of that place, you are steadfast in your quest that the place should not be abandoned.”

Briefing the visiting Honourable Members earlier, the ES, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, said the Institute had signed an MoU with Nasarawa State University, Keffi, for the affiliation of the Training School, and that the idea of establishing State Offices had also been taken a step further with the payment of office accommodation in Enugu, Enugu State and Ibadan, Oyo State, just as Gombe and Niger State Governments had allocated office spaces to the Institute to fast track the process in those states.

Continuing, he said: “We just conducted promotion examinations for 154 members of staff. We recently had a National Conference, with the theme, “Culture, Peace and National Security in Nigeria: The Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, were adequately represented in the Conference that took place at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua International Conference Centre, Abuja. It brought together traditional rulers all over Nigeria. The reactions we got from many people towards the conference, which was broadcast live on the network service of NTA, showed us that it was very successful.”

Those present include, Hon. Muniru Abiodun Hakeem, Hon. Jephthah Foingha, Hon. Mohammed Sani Idris Kutugi, and Hon. Musa Ado, as well as members of Management of NICO.

 

Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs