No doubt, culture plays a significant role in all area of human endeavour. Without culture, many societies will be living in isolation.
To this end, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) in collaboration with Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, recently rolled out drums to celebrate the Cultural Day in grand style, where students were urged to embrace their cultural heritage.
Held at the Lecture Theatre, Covenant University, the event, the second in the series, had as its theme: “Promoting African Cultural Heritage through Education”.
It had participants drawn from the academia and the arts and culture sector, including Covenant University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aderemi Aaron–Anthony Atayero, who was represented by Prof. Paul Idachaba Francis, the Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences, Prof. P. O. Alege, Dr. Augustine Agugua, among others.
Addressing the participants, the Director, Documentation Services, CBAAC, Mrs. Ndidi Aimienwauu who represented the Director-General of CBAAC, Dr. Ferdinand Anikwe, said, “This is a very welcome development because more often than not, people erroneously equate culture with antiquities; ancient and archaic,” she said.
Aimienwauu said combining culture with education would go a long way in addressing some of the societal ills plaguing the nation including the role of culture in the lives of the people.
She said: “Any institution of higher learning that does not build the philosophy of her teachings around culture, no matter how rigorous her academic activities, will at best produce students who are morally inept.
“It is on this basis that I want to commend the Vice Chancellor and his team for putting culture at the centre of the academic activities of the Covenant University; for us in CBAAC, this was what inspired and gave impetus to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the centre and the Covenant University.”
On her part, Chairperson, College Week 2018, Dr. Tayo George, who is an Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, said culture is an important aspect in every individual endeavour.
She added: “We need to go back to our culture; most of the fundamental teachings emanate from our culture. We must ensure to also carry the younger generation along, and teach them our cultural heritage so that we can have a better society.
“Most of the challenges we are facing in the country today will be a thing of the past if we embrace and teach our children cultural values. We all owe it a responsibility to teach and encourage the younger ones to embrace their culture.
“From now, we should learn to be promoting made in Nigeria goods; we should wear our traditional attire. Let’s absorb our cultural values, the positive aspect, and I am sure the society will be better for it.”
The students were not left out during the cultural day celebration, some of them made local delicacy, while others demonstrate cultural values during a competition which they were only allowed to speak their local languages.
There was also an exhibition by CBAAC where locally made works which showcased the creativity of the Nigerian people.
The works include table mats made of raffia, and raffia footwear, bags made from animal skin, a metal sculptural piece that depicts a Benin Chief showcasing their way of dressing with wrapper and beads, on among others.