NICO warns against extinction of Nigerian culture

The National Institute for Cultural Orientation has raised the alarm over the declining state of Nigeria’s indigenous languages and culture, stressing the need for revival efforts to prevent a complete erosion of the nation’s identity.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NICO, Biodun Ajiboye, expressed his concerns about the growing disinterest among Nigerian youths in promoting their cultural heritage during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the inaugural International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, according to his speech at the event.

Ajiboye lamented that the fading interest in Nigerian languages and cultural practices, especially among the youth, poses a serious threat to national unity and identity.

He urged immediate action to preserve and promote these traditions. “If we don’t pass our culture down to young people, the whole existence that marks our identity will perish. It’s a matter of time,” Ajiboye stated.

He further argued that Western education should not replace or diminish the value of indigenous culture, stressing the importance of creating a unifying Nigerian language.

“Language is powerful. I believe, personally, that if we have a Nigerian language… I think they made a lot of effort in Wazobia, but for some reason, it did not succeed. We need to create a Nigerian language,” Ajiboye said, referencing the unsuccessful Wazobia initiative while expressing hope for future efforts.

Ajiboye said NICO is currently working on identifying languages at risk of extinction through research and mapping out strategies for their revival.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that every language going into extinction has a life, and has a bounce back. And how do we get this bounce back? By advocating it and making young people learn the language all over again,” he added.

Ajiboye noted that although Nigeria has a rich cultural heritage and has made commitments to its preservation, there are still significant challenges.

He outlined the challenges to include inadequate legal frameworks, lack of funding, and poor collaboration among government agencies, state governments, and communities.

He also highlighted the need for increased expertise in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage and a better understanding of the UNESCO 2003 Convention on safeguarding such heritage.

The NICO CEO called for renewed dedication to preserving Nigeria’s intangible cultural heritage, leveraging modern technology and global tools like artificial intelligence, without losing the intrinsic value of the culture.

The event in Abuja marked the first celebration of the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Nigeria.