NGO calls on govt. to visit cultural clubs in schools

Mrs Adama Ahmed, the Coordinator, Good Access, an NGO has called on the Federal Government to revisit the extinct cultural clubs in secondary schools to encourage teaching of cultural values.

Ahmed, who was speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, added that returning to cultural clubs would enable children to exhibit their cultures.

According to her, Nigerian culture has gone into extinction owing to the fact that most children do not recognise the need to learn the culture for the betterment of the country.

She said that there was need for the government to look inward as reawakening of cultural groups and societies in the schools would impact tremendously on the youths.

Ahmed said that doing this would regenerate the minds of the youth against social vices.

“I remembered when I was growing up when we used to do our cultural festival.  Children are always happy to see themselves showcased in their culture.

“But today, what we see is that most children do not know the culture they practice, they only go to school, come out without knowing anything about the culture of the country.

“The kind of dance attributed to their culture and the language spoken by his or her people.

“Now for this cultural value to play a key role in the development of the country, government at every level must give room for extracurricular classes where pupil can learn their culture,’’ Ahmed said.

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She said that the people of Gbagyi had a number of traditional festivals being showcased on yearly basis which were no longer in existence.

“In schools, we used to have cultural dances from different localities which I believe have been suppressed by the curriculum schools run now.’’

Mrs Loveth Iwu, the Vice President of Women Empowerment and Creativity Initiative of Nigeria, an NGO, said students and pupils should be mobilised and motivated on the importance of cultural clubs.

Iwu said that emphasis on cultural dances, languages and cultural dresses would change the orientation of students to always display the Nigerian culture.

“The government should, however, go back to schools and motivate the students on the importance of portraying the Nigerian culture through dance, language and dressing.