Mrs Jane Anigala, the North East Zonal Director, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), has restated the Federal Government commitment to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage of Nigerians.
Anigala stated this at the inauguration of cultural clubs in selected secondary schools on Monday in Yola.
She stated that NICO was established by Act 93 of 1993 with primary responsibility of harnessing cultural heritage for sustainable national development.
She said the Agency had initiated several editions of the Nigerian indigenous language programmes aimed at preserving indigenous languages and promote cultural awareness.
This, she said, include the weekend language programme targeting workers and August edition designed for children and students during holiday.
“The fourth edition is the language in the barracks,” she said.
The zonal director said that the agency was affiliated to Nasarawa State University to facilitate full time certificate and Post Graduate Diploma programmes in Nigerian Cultural Studies.
Anigala advised the students to fully participate in cultural activities and speak in their mother tongues.
“Children are the leaders of tomorrow hence the need for parents and teachers to do the needful in that direction.
“The future of our nation depends on how much we invest educationally, culturally and morally,” she said.
In his remarks, Malam Abubakar Abbas, Principal, General Murtala Muhammad College, Yola, lauded the initiative, and pleged to promote cultural clubs’ activities in the schools.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NICO has inaugurated cultural clubs in Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Yola; Dubeli Government Day Secondary School and Luggere Secondary School, Yola.