The Associate Provost and the Dean of the Graduate School and Office of Continuing Education of Valpraiso University, Indiana, USA (Valpo), Professor David Rowland, has declared that the University will take advantage of the cultural heritage that National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) nurtures in Nigeria to develop a Nigerian Cultural Centre at Valpo.

Professor Rowland, who stated this in a letter of appreciation he sent to the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, for the wonderful hospitality when he visited NICO Headquarters, Abuja, said apart from nurturing the Nigerian culture, NICO also protects the cultural heritage.

In his appreciation, the Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost of the University, established in 1829, thanked the ES for the meeting with Valpo in Nigeria. “Thanks for meeting with us and for your wonderful hospitality. We hope that we will continue to find ways to develop a Nigerian Cultural Centre at Valpo and to take advantage of the cultural heritage that NICO protects and nurtures.’’

The Dean, who visited NICO Headquarters Abuja recently with Koralia Vassileva, was treated to lunch in Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, with the top management staff of NICO.

Prof. Rowland did not hide his feelings in declaring his delight over the visit to NICO even as he disclosed that the interest Valpo has in NICO is still intact, saying: “I love what NICO is doing in Nigeria in terms of development of Nigerian culture. So, I am delighted to be here and to reconnect with NICO. I love the programmes of NICO. I am impressed about NICO. Valpo is seriously taking time to prepare our plan. The University is really doing something tangible to let the agreement with NICO work out in a big way.”

Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs