By successfully hosting the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP), the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), has taken the initiative in confronting the worrisome issue of protecting and preserving the foremost bearer of our culture, our indigenous languages, which identify us as a distinct people with distinct modes of expression.
The Artistic Director/CEO of the Abuja Carnival, Prof. Bakare Ojo Rasaki, made this assertion in his address, as Chairman of the occasion, at the closing ceremony of the 2010 edition of Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme, at the Merit House, Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday, August 31, 2010.
According to the university don, NICO’s drive to rekindle our cultural values through the resuscitation of our ‘threatened’ indigenous languages have thus taken a deepened resolve and renewed dimension because, “children who cannot decipher meanings of words in their mother tongue, cannot as well communicate their culture and identity,” nor will they “value the culture and embrace the norms and practices of their original culture.”
The danger inherent in this, he pointed out, is the loss of the identity of the parent culture and an unwholesome emulation of other ways of life, which such children are not are not well grounded. Thus, we are daily confronted with ‘culture mutants’ walking our streets, Prof. Rasaki contended.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, hinted that there is a paradigm shift in the Institute’s re-orientation campaign, announcing that participants who cannot for one reason or the other be involved in future NILP studies could do that through audio-visual aids that would be produced. This would also be enhanced through the creation of a webpage on the NICO website for teaching and learning purposes.
According to Dr. Ayakoroma, to meet the interest generated by NILP in public circles and to assuage the yearning, a weekend learning programme is being put in place for the working class throughout the year.
He used the opportunity to thank the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, for identifying with NICO’s programmes and activities.
In his address, the Honourable Minister, Alhaji Mohammed, who was represented by Mr. Bamidele K. Sobayo, a Deputy Director in the Ministry, congratulated the Management and Staff of NICO for working assiduously towards the success of the programme and pledged the Ministry’s continued support towards its sustenance, adding that our indigenous languages do not only build our relationship, but also bind us as a people.
The Tiv Class set the tone for the surprise titillating performance from the NICO Cultural Troupe to come for the day when they sang the National Anthem in Tiv language. The ceremony, which witnessed a pot-pouri of activities in all the nine languages taught in the programme, was captured in a variety show of its own class.
There were also goodwill messages from former Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, and ex-staff of NICO, Mrs. Loretta Njoku, a representative of the Ag. D-G, National Gallery of Art, Mr. A. T. Ibrahim, Member Representing the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) on the NICO Governing Board, Mr. Sunny Ehioghae, and a representative of the D-G, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Barr. Olufunke Soleye.
There programme also witnessed presentation of Awards by the Representative of the Honourable Minister, Mr. Bamidele K. Sobayo, to students who distinguished themselves in the various language classes.
For photos of the event, click: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=59075&id=1594691166&l=c92b674927
Gillowei James (Snr.)
Media Asst. to the ES
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
