NCAC holds roundtable; seeks ways for Nigeria’s cultural rebirth

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) on Tuesday held a one day roundtable on morality, culture and the Nigerian youth.

The roundtable according to a release by the Council is aimed at addressing the progressive deterioration of the country’s cultural values and the urgent need to mount a comprehensive and sustainable value re-orientation programme to return Nigerian society on the path of moral rebirth.

The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe while welcoming participants to the event, decried the progressive deterioration in Nigeria’s cultural values.

Runsewe

Runsewe stated that while Nigeria had always been known for a rich culture, anchored on the virtues of hardwork, integrity, high public morality, respect for elders and constituted authority, decency in dressing and in public speeches among others, these virtues are rapidly giving way to various social vices.

He noted that in the past, agents of socialization like the family, school, religious institutions, took collective responsibility in inculcating high moral values among our youths.

According to Runsewe, “Today the story is different.” He lamented that what we now see, is laziness, get rich quick syndrome and primitive acquisitive tendencies by yahoo-yahoo boys, scammers, internet fraudsters and all forms of social vices.

In her speech, the Chairman of the occasion, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs and Administration, Office of the First Lady, Dr. Hajo Sani stated that Nigerian youths in imitating foreign cultures in the way they talk and dress, are early signs of deviation from her moral values and customs.

She lamented that “In our schools, many teachers who are supposed to tutor our children in cultural ethos now take advantage of the same children they are supposed to take care of.

She added that the society at large, has now become bad examples to our youths by exposing them to other immoral vices like rape and other forms of evil activities.

She noted that the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari will be willing to collaborate with NCAC on building a good foundation for our youth right from childhood.

The Managing Director of Africa Independence Television (AIT), Dr. (Mrs) Tosin Dokpesi, who gave the keynote address, commended the DG, NCAC for putting up the roundtable discourse, adding that there is no better time to start the moral rebirth crusade than now. She said all hands must be on deck to rid the society of the social vices and inculcate good values in our youths. She stressed the need to arrest our eroding values and tradition with a commitment to restore the lost culture and glory of our country Nigeria.

The one day roundtable attracted the participation of critical stakeholders from different sectors of the society.