NYSC national carnival celebrates Nigeria’s cultural diversity (PHOTOS)

The  National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has celebrated Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and diversity by organizing a national cultural carnival.

The event was  held at the NYSC FCT Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja.

It was aimed at driving all Nigerians in every facet of life to work towards uniting the country to achieve national growth and development.

Suleiman Abdul, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, said that the carnival which is held during every orientation course for corps members, was aimed at reawakening the cultural consciousness amongst Nigerian youth.

“The cultural carnival which was introduced to the orientation course programme a few years ago by the management of the scheme is aimed at reawakening the cultural consciousness in Nigerian youth.

“It also serves as a platform for cultural exchange and integration particularly for the young Nigerians who may not have had the opportunity to appreciate other cultures other than their own,” he explained.

He added that the cultural carnival was an avenue to unwind after the rigorous orientation course programme and called on the corps members to be good Nigerian Ambassadors wherever they find yourselves adding that the NYSC recognized the need to keep the diverse and rich Nigerian culture alive especially by Nigerian youths.

PROGRAMME

The National Carnival at the Abuja orientation camp – in fact the event was also held simultaneously across other NYSC orientation camps across Nigeria – included a display of traditional attires, food and dance steps from diverse cultures in Nigeria by corps members.

The cultures represented at the carnival included the Benin culture from Edo; Nupe and Gbagyi cultures from Niger; Idoma and Tiv from Benue; Igbo, Fulani, Yoruba and Hausa culture as well as Ibibio from Akwa Ibom.

Others were Fulani, Yoruba and Hausa cultures from the South East, North East, South West and North West regions, respectively.