Erosion of cultural values responsible for corruption in Nigeria — NICO boss

The Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Abiodun Ajiboye, has lamented that Nigeria is witnessing endemic corruption as well as high level of crimes and criminalities because of erosion of the nation’s cherished cultural values.

Ajiboye made the assertion on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2024 edition of the Annual Children’s Cultural Fiesta organized by NICO for secondary school students drawn from Abuja and its environs.

The fiesta with the theme, “Culture, Creativity and the Nigerian Youth” featured competitive and non-competitive events by participating schools such as traditional cuisine, traditional music and dance, cultural poetic rendition, and National Anthem in Nigerian indigenous language of the immediate community among others.

The NICO boss regretted that Nigeria is being confronted with so many challenges today including corruption, kidnapping for ransom, examination malpractice, cultism, and a host of other vices because of lost cultural values.

He said the programme was conceptualized to underscore the importance of children in the promotion and preservation of our rich cultural heritage as well as inculcate in them the nation’s cherished cultural values of honesty, hard work, tolerance, patriotism, respect for elders, and constituted authority.

He said NICO has the mandate of fostering Nigeria’s culture to meet the challenges of social integration, unity, peaceful co-existence, self-reliance, and National development.

According to him, the institute has effectively carried out this mandate over the years through diverse cultural orientation, sensitization, public enlightenment as well as training programmes which include: workshop conferences, seminars, culture clubs, amongst others.

He added that the institute also runs a training school for the award of Diploma and post graduate in cultural administration

He advised the students to embrace culture, disclosing that through the cultural club, students are encouraged to shun examination malpractice, indecent dressing, drug abuse, cultism, and other vices, thereby inspiring them to live a culture-oriented lifestyle.

Ajiboye added that the 2024 edition of the fiesta was strategically packaged to emphasize the critical importance of culture in enhancing creativity as well as the role of children in the realization of cultural development in the nation, which is in tandem with the present administration’s vision for a renewed Nigeria

“Culture is a vital force in any developmental agenda. It provides the bedrock through which creative abilities are expressed and developed in any society, therefore it is Imperative for the younger generation who not only serve as the bridge between the past, present, and future but are leaders of tomorrow, to be adequately sensitized and equipped with the necessary cultural skills in order to appreciate the potential embedded in our rich cultural heritage.

“The competitive and non-competitive events have been carefully selected to discover young talents, stimulate creativity, and healthy competition among students from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

“I have no doubt that this programme will impact in our children the necessary cultural knowledge and skills, as well as position them as worthy ambassadors and inspiring leaders in the nearest future,” he said.