National Institute For Cultural Orientation

The newly activated NICO Gombe State Office, aside carrying out the mandate of replicating the programmes of the Institute in Gombe and the neighbouring states in the North-East geo-political zone, has demonstrated its preparedness to document the rich cultural festivals Gombe State is endowed with, as the Research and Documentation Unit has graced, for the first time, the 5th Kamo Cultural Festival of Kamo/Awak people of Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State.

The aim of the Kamo Cultural Festival, which is an annual event celebrated before the rainy season every year, around April and May, by the Kamo and Awak ethnic groups of Kaltungo Local Government Area, is to unite the sons and daughters the two ethnic groups.

The 2013 edition, like the previous ones, was well attended by Kamo/Awak sons and daughters, who came from far and near, bearing in mind the importance they attach to the festival as the vehicle for unity and the preservation and transmission of their rich cultural heritage from the older to the younger generation, who are the leaders of tomorrow.

There were cultural displays by different groups, ranging from the young, the able bodied, the elderly and the women folk, who entertained guests with superb dances to the admiration of all present at the festival.

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency Tha’anda Rubainu, who graced the occasion, appreciated the efforts of Kamo and Awak ethnic groups for their unrelenting efforts to preserve their cultural heritage for posterity and implored the younger ones to take pride in their culture as it is their identity.

Thomas Anongu
NICO Gombe State Office

The Executive Secretary Enugu State Arts Council, Mr. Izueke Eddy Okolo, has called on the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), to key into the programmes of the State Arts Council, particularly the forth-coming “Children’s Day Cultural Carnival,” slated for May 27th, 2013.

Mr. Okolo, who said this while receiving in audience the Head, Enugu State Office of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Nnaemeka Nwajagu, in his office, on the 15th of May, 2013, informed that the Executive Secretary, NICO, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has been a long standing friend, dating back to his days as Executive Director of Bayelsa State Arts Council.

He revealed that side attractions in the programme include: Essay Writing, Fashion Parade (exclusive to African attires), Beauty Pageant, Musical Rendition, and Traditional Wrestling, adding that the participation of NICO, as a big brother in the cultural industry, would be invaluable.

In his response, the Head, Enugu State Office of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Nnaemeka Nwajagu, said that the expression of tangible and intangible culture remains a source of joy to him, given his positive disposition to cultural issues and the pivotal role culture plays in societal advancement.

He used the occasion to call on the Federal Government to involve cultural administrators in the curriculum planning and implementation, stressing that children are the greatest assets to any society, and that NICO, with Dr. Ayakoroma, a great ambassador of Nigerian culture, as its chief executive, would not hesitate to support programmes that promote the Nigerian Child.

Frank Otobo
NICO Enugu State Office

The newly appointed Secretary to State Government (SSG), Niger State, Rt. Hon. Saidu Ndako Kpaki, has said that the first place of culture is one’s village, and that that informed his insistence on the civic reception organized for him on 11th May, 2013 by his Committee of Friends taking place in Kpaki, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

Rt. Hon. Kpaki, who stated this when the Head, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) State Office, Mrs. Olufunke Ndukwe, paid him a courtesy visit, applauded NICO Minna for gracing the occasion and the courtesy visit, saying it was a welcome development, as  he is a “fan” of NICO.

He described as commendable the Dress Nigeria initiative of NICO and charged the Institute to factor further into the security situation in the country for Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers, adding that the task of achieving the programme of activities of the Institute, as outlined by the State Head, was enormous.

The SSG decried the declining state of our cultural values and challenged NICO to do everything possible to revitalize our culture in order to restore decency and sanity to the society, noting that most of the problems in the society were associated with the decadence in our cultural values, just as the developmental strides in the advanced countries are hinged mostly on the appreciation of their cultural values.

He, however, promised to go all out to ensure that the requests of NICO Minna were granted and that he will not hesitate to present the issues to the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.                            

In her speech, the Head, NICO Minna Office, Mrs. Olufunke Ndukwe, behalf of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, Management and entire staff of NICO, congratulated the SSG on his recent appointment, which she described as a result of his hard work and previous achievement as an Honourable Commissioner and Member of the State House of Assembly.             

Oyewole Akanle
Corporate Affairs
NICO Minna

A former National Vice President of Egbe Akomolede Ati Asa Yoruba, Mrs. V. B. Orogun, has called on the Federal Government to review the curriculum of Secondary Schools, in Nigeria, to elevate the importance of indigenous languages.

Mrs. Orogun, who made this appeal during the inauguration of NICO Cultural Club at Akure Secondary Commercial School, Akure, Ondo State, on May 7, 2013, lauded the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), for coming up with the “Omoluabi Club” concept.

She called on the Federal Government to look into the curriculum of secondary schools, as the present one, which made Nigerian Indigenous Languages electives was not helping the campaign for cultural rebirth, stressing that language was an integral part of culture which should be held in high esteem, and called on Principals of Secondary Schools to give NICO the needed support to sustain the Cultural Clubs.

Earlier, the Zonal Head, Mr. Ohi Ojo, noted that various Nigerian cultures were at risk, in the face of globalization and that there was urgent need to direct attention to our institutional, material and philosophical culture, adding that the Cultural Clubs were “to catch the students young,” and imbibe in them ideal cultural values.

In her remark, Head of Orientation and Cultural Affairs, South-West Zone, Mrs. Ogechukwu Nwokorie, expressed her appreciation to the school for their effort in upholding and promoting our cultural values, saying that members of the club would be, among other things, exposed to Nigerian indigenous ways of life such as dress patterns, traditional delicacies and modes of their preservation, and traditional hairdo.

In her vote of thanks, the Culture teacher in the school, Mrs. M.C. Obadara, thanked the Zonal Head and his team for establishing the club, and pledged unflinching and unalloyed support for the NICO Cultural Club (Omoluabi).

Stephen Ayomoba
Corporate Affairs

In line with the Institute’s mandate of harnessing culture for national development and the need to diversify Nigeria’s cultural values for national cohesion, the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), North-East Zonal Office, Yola, the Adamawa State capital, is celebrating the 2013 edition of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, with the theme, “Do one thing for Diversity and Inclusion.”

A statement signed by the Head, NICO North-East Zone, Mallam Ismaila Ahmad, said the programme would raise awareness about the importance of intercultural dialogue, and build a community of individuals committed to supporting cultural diversity to improve understanding and cooperation among people from different cultures

According to him, the event will also provide an opportunity to deepen people’s understanding of the values of cultural diversity, learn to live together based on common humanity, and engage them meaningfully to support cultural diversity and inclusion.

The ceremony will be under the Chairmanship of the Special Adviser to the Adamawa State Governor on Culture, Mr. Baba Ali Likita, while the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Adamawa State, Mr. Ahmed Philip Gutuwa, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour.

Highlight of the occasion will be a lecture, titled, “Nigerian Cultural Values: The Reality, Challenges and Prospects,” by Dr. Umar Zubairu, a History Lecturer from the Federal College of Education, Yola, Adamawa State.

The programme is scheduled to take place on 21st of May, 2013, at Saleh Michika Conference Hall, Government Girls’ Secondary School, Yola, Adamawa State,  at 10:00am

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