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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and Chinese Cultural Centre, Abuja, have agreed to partner on cultural development.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NICO, Ado Muhammed Yahuza, while speaking during a courtesy visit to the Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of China in Nigeria and Director, China Cultural Centre, Mr. Li Xuda, in Abuja, expressed the readiness of the institute to consolidate on the long-standing relationship between the institute and China Cultural Centre towards promoting the rich cultural heritages of both countries.
Yahuza told Li that China has over the years, developed so much and if the mutual relationship that exist between the two countries is maintained, the benefits will be mutual, thereby ensuring positive relationship between China and Nigeria. Yahuza said China’s management of cultural diversity was one area that Nigeria could learn from on how to effectively promote its cultural diversity.
“From what we have seen with China, their management of diversity has proved to be very good in terms of the development of the country, and we believe that in Nigeria, with the good relationship with China and China Cultural Centre, it can help us to do more in promoting Nigeria’s cultural diversity towards national and international development.
“We are also a focal agency for UNESCO where we relate at the international level on matters of culture for Nigeria. We also manage the UNESCO Convention of 2005 which has to do with diversity of cultural expressions which I believe the China is also leading in that direction,” Yahuza said.
On the Institute’s Training School programmes leading to the award of diploma and postgraduate diploma in Cultural Administration, Yahuza expressed optimism that the relationship between the Institute and China Cultural Centre would not only be useful in the area of knowledge impartation on students, but will also go a long way in advancing Nigeria’s cultural relations and development.
On his part, Li expressed gratitude to Yahuza for the visit and reiterated the long existing relationship between the two institutions.
While saying that both countries were large with very rich cultures, Li said it was important for the centre to continue to work with NICO towards promoting diversity for national and international development, especially now that the centre has resumed trainings and opened up its cultural events and cooperation.
