The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has reiterated the need for Nigerians to go back to the basics and appreciate their culture as one of the simplest and most potent things that can push our development.
Executive Secretary/CEO of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye made this known while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the 10th edition of Abuja Festival of Arts and Culture (ASOFEST), organized by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Social Development Secretariat at the Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Centre, Abuja.
Ajiboye who expressed joy at the recognition of the culture of the people by the FCT said NICO as an Institution of government has been in the forefront of propagating our cultural values as a people for development.
His words “Today is a very wonderful day that the FCT has recognized the culture of our people. A country without a cultural identity cannot have a national identity. It is a thing of joy to see that our culture has once again, come to the front burner in our quest for development and we need to stop the idea of making culture appear like a sideline attraction but rather make it the main thing”.
According to him, if culture is not incorporated into our developmental plans, there cannot be development, stressing that a lot of developed countries in the world have taken culture to be as important as their life.
“China took culture so important and we can see how far they have gone in their development. If you see an Indian man in jacket, tie and trousers, he will put on the turban and with that turban, you will know that he is an Indian”.
“It is my wish that as a nation, we should try and continue to project our culture in our day to day life to guarantee our development. Take for instance our languages; our children no longer speak our indigenous languages just because we have imbibed foreign cultures; our children no longer wear our cultural and native dresses. We need to come to that point as a people where our culture can speak for us and serve as our identity”, he said.
Caleb Nor
Media Assistant to ES, NICO
