UNESCO Cultural Competition Among Secondary Schools In Nigeria Holds In Anambra Friday, Winners To Represent Nigeria At African Contest

              

Director, Institute for African Culture and International Understanding (IACIU), a UNESCO Category II Institute, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta, Ogun State ,Prof Peter Okebukola , OFR has announced a cultural competition among Secondary Schools in Anambra state this Friday at Cana House Mission road Awka by 9. Am.

A press statement signed by Prof Okebukola informed that the Institute has been organizing a series of state-level cultural competitions among secondary schools in Nigeria with a view to fostering cultural security.

He said the cultural competition will be in areas of Egwu Odinala (Cultural dance) ; Nkwa Odinala (Native Drumming) ;Ekike Odinala (Cultural Attire) ;Mbem (Poetry) ; and Ejije Odinala (Traditional Drama). He informed further that winning state schools will compete at the National level where winners will be selected as Nigerian representatives for the Africa Cultural Olympiad scheduled for December, 2014.

 Part of the press statement by Prof Okebukola , Director UNESCO stated thus:  ‘’The competition will serve as a platform for engaging the youth on the desirability of the protection of cultural properties of the state and also nurture them into cultural stewards.

‘’Winners at the state level will participate in the national competition in October where representatives from Nigeria will be selected for the Africa Cultural Olympiad scheduled for December, 2014. The competition among secondary schools in Anambra state is a continuation of series of state-level competitions.

‘’Observations have shown that cultural erosion is most evident among youths, who have been found to be receptive to popular cultures mediated by information and communication technology. Being the vehicle of cultural continuity, it follows that any programme of cultural propagation should target them.

‘’In Nigeria today, many of the youths are disconnected from the indigenous cultural apparatuses and the mother tongue, for instance, is rapidly being endangered by the preference which most homes, especially the elites, accord English and other European languages.

‘’The Anambra State competition will take place on Friday, 18 July 2014 by 9.00am at CANA House, Mission Road, Awka, Anambra State.

The Coordinator of the Cultural Competition Programme is Mrs Lovelyn Nwachuku.

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Institute for African Culture and International Understanding Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Nigeria

 

CULTURAL COMPETITION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA

ANAMBRA STATE EVENT

PRESS RELEASE

The Institute for African Culture and International Understanding (IACIU), a UNESCO Category II Institute, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta, Ogun State has been organizing a series of state-level cultural competitions among secondary schools in Nigeria with a view to fostering cultural security.  The competition will serve as a platform for engaging the youth on the desirability of the protection of cultural properties of the state and also nurture them into cultural stewards. Winners at the state level will participate in the national competition in October where representatives from Nigeria will be selected for the Africa Cultural Olympiad scheduled for December, 2014. The competition among secondary schools in Anambra state is a continuation of series of state-level competitions.

Observations have shown that cultural erosion is most evident among youths, who have been found to be receptive to popular cultures mediated by information and communication technology. Being the vehicle of cultural continuity, it follows that any programme of cultural propagation should target them. In Nigeria today, many of the youths are disconnected from the indigenous cultural apparatuses and the mother tongue, for instance, is rapidly being endangered by the preference which most homes, especially the elites, accord English and other European languages.

The Anambra State competition will take place on Friday, 18 July 2014 by 9.00am at CANAHouse, Mission Road, Awka, Anambra State. The event will feature

·        Egwu Odinala (Cultural dance)

·        Nkwa Odinala (Native Drumming)

·        Ekike Odinala (Cultural Attire)

·        Mbem (Poetry)

·        Ejije Odinala (Traditional Drama)

For further information please contact the Coordinator of the Cultural Competition Programme Mrs Lovelyn Nwachukuby email ([email protected]).

Prof. Peter Okebukola OFR

Director