The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has expressed commitment to support the hosting of the 2024 Abuja International Carnival in order to reposition Nigeria’s diverse cultures for national development.
Executive Secretary/CEO of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye who gave this assurance on Tuesday, August 27, while receiving members of the 2024 Abuja International Carnival Organizing Committee on a courtesy visit to his Office in Abuja, said the Institute’s support and partnership will give credence and government presence to the carnival.
His Words; “The carnival is actually a brand of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy. The brand has succeeded that is why the private sector has decided to cache in on this to explore the value of the brand. I am very interested in this product and would want to be part of the Abuja International Carnival because it will give the Institute the opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s diverse cultures to the world”.
While stressing that NICO with its statutory responsibility of cultural orientation is not oblivious of the economic benefits of our rich culture with the capacity to attract international recognition as well as its huge contribution to the GDP of the country, Ajiboye said a proper orientation of the youth about our cultural values will go a long way to change their mind-set about certain things and the carnival remains a veritable platform to carry out the Institute’s mandate of cultural orientation.
He highlighted some of the Institute’s programmes and sought ways of collaborations with the visitors “There is a digital platform we are working on called ‘Dudu Plug’. It is all about cultural content. I don’t know how you will package your content but if we have the template of the carnival, we will choose those materials, the raw coverage and then edit it to our taste to suit the kind of content we want to put on Dudu plug. We will discuss and you will give us the copyright so that nobody bridges it. If you want us to pay you small money for the copyright, we will do so far as it is not too much”.
Talking about the Institute’s monotechnic called Nigerian Academy for Cultural Studies (NACUS), the CEO said the Academy is expected to look at Nigeria’s diverse cultures and package it in a way that it will be acceptable to the world in order to teach the world the importance of our culture and compare same to the Asian, American and English Culture as well as inform people that Nigerian diverse culture can actually be better.
He further explained that NACUS will have a cultural technology department that can turn our cultural products into useful industrial products as well as take into consideration, those Nigerian cultural products that can generate revenue and apply technology to make it better and acceptable, starting with Kwara, Lagos and Abuja as strategic states to kickstart the monotechnic where our youths will learn a trade in art and craft and make a living out of it.
Earlier the leader of the team and CEO, Abuja International Carnival, Mr. Kehinde Adegbite, also known as Mallam Yankee, enumerated the cultural activities lined up for the 2024 carnival. He explained that the committee with a Private Public Partnership (PPP) initiative is building on the already existing carnival template of the past which include competitive events like boat regatta; cultural street parade, cultural dance, drama, and art exhibition in the art village of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC). He added that the committee has decided to add two new cultural events; cultural fashion show that is in two categories and football competition for the youths to spice up the carnival.
Accompanying him on the visit were Mr. Pelumi Akande, Director Business and Media; Mr. Eze Ezekwesili, Creative Director; Miss. Franca Gwaza, Secretary of the Committee; Mr. Benard Ajewole, Director, Welfare and Logistics; Mr. Abiola Sanusi, Director Sports and Miss. Vera Thomas, Personal Assistant to the CEO.
NICO staff in attendance to receive the visitors were Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs Department, Mr. Segun Adegbaju; Head Human Resource Management Department, Mr. Alhaji Ndaman; and Mrs. Maria Opuzor, Head Special Duties, Office of the Executive Secretary.
Njideka Dimgba-Onoja
Media Unit, NICO,
Abuja.
