The Chairman of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), based in Enugu, the Association of Survival of Igbo Language and Culture, Mr. Chinedum Ofomata (Ebekuedike Ogbunka), has assured the Management of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), headed by a cultural “guru,” Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, of the organisation’s readiness to partner the Institute in its lofty programmes of cultural renaissance, which is most needed for a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation, like Nigeria.
Mr. Ofomata, who stated this when he visited NICO Enugu State Office to familiarise himself with the programmes of the Institute, noted that NICO, as the only cultural institute of the Federal Government, had a lot of work to do at this challenging period of the country’s nascent democracy, and that his Association, the Igbo nation and Nigerians at large, had a lot to gain from the well-articulated programmes of the Institute.
He opined that NICO programmes, with the inherent knowledge, can change the negative influences of Western culture on Nigerian youths as well as enhance the promotion of peace and unity of the country, further calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to support the Institute’s efforts geared toward the reorientation of the people, saying there was need for all and sundry to go back to their roots, with the aim of maintaining the good cultural values, norms and ethics to help make Nigeria a better place.
Earlier, the Head, NICO Enugu State Office, Mr. Nwajagu Nnaemeka, welcomed the cultural enthusiast, who has written over 100 books on Igbo language and culture, to the NICO family, urging him not to relent in his efforts toward the protection, preservation and promotion of culture, especially the Igbo culture.
The State Head promised, on behalf of the Institute, to liaise with the Association to ensure that the crusade reached the nooks and crannies of the State and beyond, expressing joy in the prospects of partnering the organisation, which was willing to key into the mission and vision of NICO.
In his contribution, Mr. Austin Okezie of the Research and Documentation Unit enumerated the cardinal programmes of the Institute to the Association and promised to send their request on the decentralisation of NICO Training School to the Headquarters in Abuja, so that its programmes and activities could be accessible in the hinterlands.
Mr. Kingsley Ngoka of the Corporate Affairs, while giving the Vote of Thanks, appreciated the organisation and expressed hope that the collaboration will be mutually beneficial, since there are similarities in the programmes and missions of both organisations.
Kingsley Ngoka
NICO Enugu State Office