The Zonal Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), South-east zone, Mr Chigozie Obialor, has praised the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Executive Secretary, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, for reshaping the outfit.
At a meeting with the NICO Enugu State team in his office, Obialor identified culture as the vector for information dissemination that ensures social reformation. He appreciated the institute’s management for working towards the fulfilment of its mandate, describing the relationship between NICO and FRCN as necessary for value re-orientation.
Obialor, who also identified culture as a bedrock in information management since every story is hinged on the culture of any organisation or people, praised NICO for their strong presence in the nation, especially the establishment of the Enugu Office, adding that it had spread to all nooks and crannies of the country.
He congratulated the office on the successful outing on long vacation four-week Nigeria Indigenous Language Programme (NILP).
Earlier, the Head, NICO Enugu State office, Mr Nwajagu Nnaemeka, told the media boss that they were in his office to show appreciation on the coverage of the maiden Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme (NILP) organised by the state Office in Enugu, between August 2 and September 6, this year.
Nwajagu identified the electronic media as powerful tool to reach the people, particularly those in the rural areas, hence a sine-qua non in the propagation of NICO’s vision and mission.
He said it was up to the owners of any particular culture to ensure it survived or not, and further pointed out that the media was the major channel the Westerners used to infiltrate into our culture and polluted the minds of the young ones; and that there was urgent need to “chase out the owl from the source it came.”
The NICO Enugu State chief was also said: “We have to let the world know of our culture by introducing new programmes and teaching most of our existing ones in our local dialects, and further observed that culture quiz and essay competitions need to be strengthened through the media to restore our cherished culture.”
Mr Austin Okezie of the Research and Documentation Department enumerated the programmes of NICO and enjoined FRCN to assist in ensuring that our culture does not go into extinction through regular programmes that will showcase our rich culture.
He specifically solicited for partnership between the Igbo Unit of FRCN and NICO, in the realisation of this noble objective, expressing worry that our people have been disconnected from their cultures as a result of negative media influence, hoping that the support of FRCN will go a long way in ameliorating the situation.
The Manager (Programmes), Mr Fidelis Onor, expressed appreciation to NICO for the laudable programmes aimed at bringing back our lost glory and promised to feature NICO activities in the FRCN language programme, “Ka oha malu,” and prayed for the continuing relationship.
Other FRCN management staff present at the occasion include Jonas Emechebe Deputy Director, Engineering Services; Dr. Vincent Ekwerike, Deputy Director, Programmes; Mr Anthony Umeh, Deputy Director, Finance and Accounts; Mr Innocent Ekwerike, Assistant Director, Administration and Supplies); Mr Frank Okoli, Assistant Director, Internal Audit; Mr Sunny Ekechukwu, Manager, Marketing and Mr. Nath Obikpo, Head, Igbo Unit.
