Children in Nassarawa state, North central Nigeria, have marked cultural day with displays of the rich heritage of Nigeria, including food, clothing and traditional dances.
Cultural day is celebrated once a year across schools in Nigeria, to celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and conscientise the younger generation on the need to preserve, promote and understand them.
At a school in Uke town in the state, students marked the day by presenting a series of cultural activities to mark their Annual Cultural Day.
Tagged “Nigeria’s Cultural Diversity, We all have a Root,” the event featured performaances from children from various schools.
In his welcome address, the host of the event, Mr Christopher Ejeh said the event aimed at paying attention to the rich cultural heritage in Nigeria; which are also important in moulding the character of children.
“Today we are celebrating our Annual Cultural Day, a day to showcase our diverse cultures in Nigeria and also to learn other people’s culture, their ways of life, food, dance and the ways they greet. This helps in a lot of ways, as it gives the children the opportunity to experience cultures that are totally different from theirs.
The event gives them the opportunity to really know that we are diverse in our culture and we should appreciate other people’s unique cultures….With the smiles on everyone’s faces and everybody trying to associate themselves with one culture, tribe, dance or the other, truly I must say the children are not only learning in the classroom but are today on the field to learn the importance of unity in diversity.”
In a reaction, one of the students, John Yusuf, said “there are so many interesting things about the different Nigerian tribes that are worth experiencing by tourists and foreigners”
The event brought together scholars, art and cultural administrators, artists, parents and other visiting schools.
Hauwa Abu
