Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke, has explained the rationale behind the ministry’s emphasis on training and re-training of its personnel.
The minister disclosed this at the fifth annual public lecture and second convocation of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) on August 15 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.
Guests at the lecture
Represented by Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), Martins Adaji, the minister emphasised that no meaningful progress can take place if officers who are charged with the responsibility of implementing government policies and programmes are ill-equipped.
That is why, the minister stated, his ministry has emphasised training and re-training of its personnel and encourages the parastatals under the ministry to do same.
The lecture titled ‘Re-positioning Nigeria’s Cultural Industries for economic Empowerment and Social Security’ was delivered by Professor Effiong Johnson of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
It was followed by the convocation the next day at the National Theatre, Lagos, for graduands of the Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration programmes of NICO Training School, Lagos, for the 2012/2013 Academic Session.
Chaired by Director General of the Centre for Management Development (CMD), Lagos, Dr. Kabir Usman, the lecture was a succinct paper on the dislocation of Nigeria’s cultural industries from their places of relevance.
While identifying and critiquing the nation’s unhealthy attitude to implementing policies like the one on culture, Prof. Johnson dwelt on the contributions cultural industries can make to fully realise its essence.
He particularly highlighted the economic potential of the sector, which he stated is far more lucrative than oil, while explaining that for the Nigerians to understand their culture, they must be grounded in their different languages.
It was a lecture well received by the diverse audience of government functionaries, former students and friends of NICO from far and wide that the questions and contributions went on for a while.
Duke commended NICO’s governing board, management and staff “for creating an authentic platform to enlighten, educate and demonstrate to the general public the critical role of culture in national development”.
In his welcome speech at the lecture, the institute’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, called on Nigerians to take advantage of the cultural dimension of development for the much-needed advancement in governance and every area of national life, so that the country can stand tall in the comity of nations.
