CHILDREN’S DAY: NICO to organise Children’s Cultural Extravaganza.

Plans have reached advanced stage to treat children to a scintillating 2017 Children’s Day bash following a lavish celebration being hatched by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Abuja and Lagos with the theme: ‘Our Culture, Our Pride and Heritage.’

According to a statement signed by the Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Caleb Nor, NICO intends to use the Children’s Day celebration to further implement its statutory mandate which is to educate children on the gains of embracing their culture and communicating in their indigenous languages.

The Executive Secretary of NICO, Prof. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, according to the statement, will use the celebration to educate children on the need to foster a sense of cultural identity, pride, cultural awareness among their peers, encourage the appreciation of Nigerian languages, dresses, cuisines, music and create a platform for the discovery of young talents in culture and creative arts.

The statement disclosed that Nollywood veteran actor, Sam Dede is expected to deliver a lecture on the topic: ‘Our Culture, Our Pride and Heritage,’ which will center on the importance of indigenous languages for development.

The statement also stated that “the Cultural Extravaganza will foster a sense of cultural identity, pride and awareness in our children; promote cultural education and scholarship amongst students; encourage the appreciation of Nigerian Languages, dresses, cuisines and music at all levels of social integration; create a platform to discover young talents in culture and creative arts as well as promote the culture of peaceful co-existence and unity amongst students from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds.

“The cultural extravaganza will have students from the various schools participating in non-competitive events such as: rendition of our National Anthem in indigenous languages; traditional fashion parade; traditional music and dance; round-table discussions on ‘The importance of indigenous languages to national development’ and ‘Decent dressing and Nigeria dress culture.’

The event is slated to hold on May 25 and 26, 2017 in Abuja and Lagos among secondary school children selected from designated schools.