A Proposal Aimed at Encouraging Cultural Appreciation Among Nigerianyouths
INTRODUCTION
One of the items on the Mandates/Schedule of Duty of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) is: “To promote skills acquisition and youth empowerment through our cultural industries.”
In addition, the Council has as its mission statement, a pledge to “Be committed to the development and promotion of the living Arts and Cultures of Nigeria, using it as resources for National Integration and unity ...for sustainable growth and development of the Nation.”
From the foregoing, it is obvious that the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), is sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the youths in the country as it was established for the purpose of uniting the various ethnic groups in the country in spite of their cultural differences. It is therefore believed that there is a need to encourage our youths to embrace and appreciate the cultural diversities of the country. Such initiative will also help to equip them with the knowledge of the origin of the cultural skill(s) they might need to acquire such as, wood carving, pottery etc.
It is hoped that an annual youths’ cultural event will create an avenue for the youths to inculcate the cultural practices in the country. This will further enhance the achievement of the Council’s set goals and objectives while also preserving our cultural heritage.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The invasion of Western cultures and globalization has without a doubt, taken its toll on the cultural values of our National life, particularly as it relates to the youths. It has then become imperative to fashion out cultural programs targeted mainly at our young ones.
As unfortunate as it is, a large number of youths possess little or no knowledge of the cultures of their mother land; whereas, this same class of youths boasts of copious knowledge of foreign cultures especially Western cultures while they consider our indigenous cultures as outdated and not worthy to be identified with. For example, it is a common
One of the items on the Mandates/Schedule of Duty of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) is: “To promote skills acquisition and youth empowerment through our cultural industries.”
In addition, the Council has as its mission statement, a pledge to “Be committed to the development and promotion of the living Arts and Cultures of Nigeria, using it as resources for National Integration and unity ...for sustainable growth and development of the Nation.”
From the foregoing, it is obvious that the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), is sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the youths in the country as it was established for the purpose of uniting the various ethnic groups in the country in spite of their cultural differences. It is therefore believed that there is a need to encourage our youths to embrace and appreciate the cultural diversities of the country. Such initiative will also help to equip them with the knowledge of the origin of the cultural skill(s) they might need to acquire such as, wood carving, pottery etc.
It is hoped that an annual youths’ cultural event will create an avenue for the youths to inculcate the cultural practices in the country. This will further enhance the achievement of the Council’s set goals and objectives while also preserving our cultural heritage.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The invasion of Western cultures and globalization has without a doubt, taken its toll on the cultural values of our National life, particularly as it relates to the youths. It has then become imperative to fashion out cultural programs targeted mainly at our young ones.
As unfortunate as it is, a large number of youths possess little or no knowledge of the cultures of their mother land; whereas, this same class of youths boasts of copious knowledge of foreign cultures especially Western cultures while they consider our indigenous cultures as outdated and not worthy to be identified with. For example, it is a common