The Kwara State Controller of Prisons, Mr. Aremoba Ayokanbi, has described the efforts of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) under the leadership of Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, as commendable and should be encouraged, saying it is a veritable drive to make culture a vector for national integration and development.
The State Controller of Prisons stated this when he played host to a delegation of NICO North-Central Zonal office, led by the Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, that paid him a courtesy visit, in preparation for the forthcoming Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP).
He said, “as Nigerians, we should be grateful having such an Institute that has been holding the bull by the horn and leaving no stone unturned in making sure that our culture does not go into extinction. The Institute, therefore, deserves every necessary encouragement to continue building its strength for the task ahead it.”
Controller Ayokanbi, who requested the Zonal Office to organize a workshop for the Nigeria Prisons Officers in the state in order to enhance their skills, also expressed his Command’s readiness to collaborate with the Institute, just as he promised to sponsor officers from the Command to learn one or two languages during the 4-week indigenous language programme scheduled to take
place from 5th August to 5th September, 2013, at Olumawu College, Ilorin.
Earlier, the Zonal Coordinator, NICO North-Central Zone, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, said his team was at the Command on a familiarization visit and to also seek possible areas of collaboration.
He associated most of the prevalent social vices in the country to cultural degradation, saying the Institute will continue to do its best in redeeming the nation’s cultural values from the shackles of civilization, by harnessing and reviving the country’s cultural assets, both tangible and intangible, especially those faced with the threat of extinction.
The Zonal Coordinator took his host down memory lane as he enumerated some of the programmes and activities carried out by the Institute so far, some of which are to be replicated at the zonal levels, to ensure that the message gets down to stake holders at the grassroots.
Ahmed Mohammed
NICO NCZ