An Educationist, Mr. Nuruddeen Bello, has called on Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities presented by School Cultural Days to preserve their cultures and dialects, as well as save them from going into extinction.
Mr. Bello, who is the Director of Womanhood School of Health Science Kaduna, said, such occasions could also be used to promote unity among students, while teaching them the importance of promoting their traditional and cultural dances and attires.
Speaking during his School’s Cultural Day Celebration, Mr. Bello stressed the need to teach young Nigerians the vital role cultural dances play in uniting people, irrespective of their tribes, cultures and historical backgrounds.
“It is high time we stand up and start teaching our children our culture and our real identity, not copying foreign cultures.
“Our culture is good, more than the ones our children are borrowing from foreign countries,” he said.
He noted that in developed countries, many people use their language and cultural attires as tools for national development, hence the need for Africans, especially Nigerians to equally use same for development and uniting the nation.
The School Director added that apart from sports and entertainment which unify Nigerians, culture could can also be used to bring Nigerians together.
The educationist added that it is high time all schools in Nigeria start observing cultural days to help teach children appreciate the importance of their languages and culture.
“We are different people, but civilisation has taught us to live together as one,” he said.
Student Cultural Troupes, dressed in traditional and cultural attires representing different tribes entertained guests through various cultural performances. Various local food and drinks were also displayed.
Some of the indigenous tribes that participated in contest include Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, gyagyi, Nupe, and Adara.
Special Guess at the event, the National President of Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria, Pastor Yohanna Buru, called on Nigerian government to create a National Cultural Day Celebration with the aim of bringing together all cultural troupes across the country.
“This would sure help in bringing back peace, unity and better understanding among different faith-based organisations across the country,” he said.
The Special Guest also stressed the need for parents to teach their children local languages, as well as promote wearing traditional and cultural attires to save their culture from going into extinction.
