By Amos Tauna
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Cultural Educative Innovation, has attributed the gradual collapsed of cultural values among Nigerians as responsible of the incessant crises affecting the corporate existence of the country.
The NGO noted that lack of respect for elders and the general disrespect for one another was as a result of the non usage of cultural values among Nigerians culminating to most crises in the country.
Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, the NGO project manager, Samuel Ukpong, said the launching of the 0campaign to promote and re-orientate Nigerians on need to preserve their cultures and languages.
He said the organisation also had mapped out strategies to support and boost the tourism business in Nigeria.
Mr. Ukpong, who is also the brain behind the project said the decision to embark on the project was informed by the Federal Government’s Initiative of “Change Starts with me” campaigns.
Ukpong explained that Cultural Educative Initiative would do all it could within its power to promote and project Nigerian culture and tourism potentials.
“We are worried that our youth and children have been over exposed to western life to the detriment of our culture, language and this is why idea to reverse the trend,” Ukpong said .
He explained that the brand name of the project Cultural Educative Innovation was carefully crafted to serve a platform for constant education and national rebirth through which Nigeria’s culture, language and tourism potentials would be discussed.
“There is so much in Nigeria and Africa as a continent that we need to sell to the world and waiting for government has proved to be unproductive, so we are taking the lead for the renaissance,” he observed.
In his remark , the Project Director, John Eyo, said culture is a vehicle for individuals to identify their roots, urged citizens and government to support the ” Bring Back Our Language and Culture” project.
He said, ”Nothing is wrong with our children speaking English, but something is wrong with our children who don’t understand their dialects or languages and know their roots.”
Eyo pointed out that Nigeria has the potential to become a greater nation if its people can embrace their culture .
He also noted that tourism business could be viable, noting that when tourists know that the country they are visiting is culturally rich.
Eyo, who acknowledged that Nigeria was culturally rich, said the failure to harness, promote and sell the cultures to other parts of the world have been the problem, hence the decision of CEI to embark on the project to preserve culture and identities of Nigerians.
He added, “It is only when we support the initiative that we attract investors, develop the tourism sector and achieve our desired goals as a sovereign nation.”
Queen Hyelayiti Aliyu assured of her commitment to ensure the success of Cultural Educative Initiative, CEI, in every part of the country.
According to her, Nigeria could only take her rightful position as the giant of Africa if the issues of culture and language identified were prioritised.