The National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, has organised Children’s Cultural Fiesta for secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Fiesta in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NICO, Mr Ado Muhammad Yahuza said the programme is an offshoot of the Institute’s Cultural Club in Secondary Schools.
Mr Yahuza stated that the Fiesta with the theme “Culture, Creativity and the Future of the Nigerian Children” was designed to stimulate culture consciousness among students, create a profile to discover young talents in culture and creative arts as well as encourage cooperation and healthy competition among the students.
“While the Culture Club serves as a platform for the promotion of culture consciousness, creativity, national pride and Identity on a weekly basis, the Cultural Fiesta on the other hand provides an opportunity annually for members of the Cultural Club to display what they have learnt through competitive and non-competitive events’ He explained
The Executive Secretary who said NICO would establish Cultural Clubs in all secondary schools in the FCT and nationwide noted that sure way to make the children good let of tomorrow is by laying a solid socio-cultural and economic foundation for them.
“In this regard, I wish to assure you that this edition is a rich package that would expose our children to the beauty of our rich cultural heritage in music and dance, traditional cuisine, fashion parade, cultural quiz, lecture and roundtable on theme of the Fiesta” Mr Yahuza added
The Keynote Speaker and Senior Lecturer from the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja, Prof. Barth Oshionebo commended NICO for organizing the Children’s Cultural Fiesta.
According to him, the Fiesta has gone a long way to inculcate the nation’s cultural values of peace, unity and national coherence in the students.
In a remark, the Director General of National Gallery of Arts, Chief Ebeten Ivara attributed most crimes among Nigerian students to loss of the cultural norms and values.
He therefore called for the support of all stakeholders towards promoting Nigerian culture among the country”s younger generation.
On his part, the Director General, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Abdullahamid Dembos represented by the General Manager, NTA Knowledge, Bukola Da-Silva promised the Organization’s support to NICO towards harnessing culture for national development.
Some of the students expressed gratitude to NICO for the Children’s Cultural Fiesta.
Twelve selected secondary schools in the FCT participated in the Fiesta which featured Quiz Competition, Cultural Display and presentation of gifts and certificates to the participating schools and students.
