The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has lauded the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), for immensely promoting the Nigerian culture.
He stated that the culture of Nigeria is shaped by Nigeria’s multiple ethnic groups.
The Governor made the statement on the occasion of the 2023 batch ‘C’ stream 1 cultural carnival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe NYSC unity permanent Orientation Camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, on Saturday.
Governor Soludo who was represented by Comrade Chibuzo Udeh from the office of the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Aghamba, said, “Our culture is not just dance display, but a totality of who we are, how we dress, how we talk, in terms of our core values. Our culture is an embodiment of who we are. It is a celebration of our hard work.
“The country has about 527 languages with over 250 tribes spread across the 36 states, having the three largest ethnic groups as the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, so we are exposed to differences in dressing, customs, methods and lots more.”
The Governor urged the corps members to embrace one another with love and respect each other’s culture, norms, values and religion.
Presenting her speech, Mrs Blessing Ekene Iruma, State Coordinator NYSC, Anambra State, emphasised that the cultural carnival is essentially articulated by the management of the scheme to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria through music, dressing, food, arts beliefs, languages, songs among others.
The state coordinator disclosed that only 10 tribes were selected to participate in the carnival owing to time constraints in camps.
“In this camp, the tribe selected include Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Efik, Igala, Idoma, Tiv, Urhobo and Benin.
“By organising cultural carnival of this nature, wealth could be created as this could be exported to earn foreign exchange. Moreover, cultural carnival provides an avenue for relaxation and enjoyment. After nearly three weeks on camp, this is a period to forget the rigorous activities and characteristics of camp life.
Mrs Iruma also stated that promoting cultural carnivals beyond NYSC could invariably lead to job creation for the teeming youths of the country.
Highlighting the benefits of the NYSC cultural carnival, the state coordinator said, “NYSC cultural carnival: exposes the Nigerian youths to rich cultural diversities and languages of the country, collapses all forms of social, gender, religious barriers and extends the hands of fellowship across the cultural groups, helps reduce prejudices about certain cultures and boosts economic activities across communities, stimulates in corps members unusual creativities and innovations, promotes local content like local or native fabrics and attires, is an avenue to learn from different cultures without losing your identity as we stand politically to understand ourselves better.”
Mrs Iruma further called on town unions and other youth organisations, to strive to evaluate the gains accruable from NYSC cultural carnival and embark on the planning and execution of similar ones, to tap the talents of youths and create wealth for them, in the process.
Corps members from the 10 platoons contested in cultural presentation, best king and queen attire, best creative decorated canopies, catching the train, knotting of tie, sack race, and egg race, among others. At the end of the cultural carnival competition, platoon 4 had first position, platoon 3 came second while the third position went to platoon 10. The state coordinator and other government officials presented cash prizes to the winners.
Meanwhile, the Igwe of Umuawulu, His Royal Majesty, Engineer Joel Egwuonu (the ezeudo II of Umuawulu), appreciated the government, and NYSC management for organising the carnival. He blessed the corps members and wished them fruitful endeavours in life.
Dominica Nwabufo
