The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Ondo State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani has advised corps members to see themselves as cultural ambassadors and promote the nation’s heritage.
Ani offered the advice when she flagged off the cultural carnival for the 2021 Batch ‘C’ (Stream II) corps members at the NYSC orientation camp, Ikare-Akoko.
She said that the diversity of various ethnic groups that made up the country should be explored to put the nation’s cultural values and identity on the global stage.
“Gentlemen corps members, you need to promote our national identity with your various cultures by coming together as a single entity to tell the world that we are one nation bound together and inseparable.
“Today, and as corps members, you have identified with various cultures by the arrangement of your platoons and what this indicates is that you are all coming together to showcase the culture of other backgrounds,” she said.
According to her, the essence of the cultural carnival among the members of the service corps was to encourage the graduate youths to harness the untapped and hidden talents for the development of the country.
“Many of you who are desirous of relocating outside the shores of this country after the service year would have gotten requisite knowledge about cultures that abound in the country and export same to foreign lands.
“We should acknowledge the superiority of our culture because if you don’t blow your trumpet, no one will blow it for you. Many foreign nationals are trooping into the country to learn our indigenous culture, yet, we the owners are not seen to be doing enough to promote and showcase it,” she said.
The carnival commenced with the procession of camp officials led by the State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani, after which platoons presented their respective cultural displays.
After the colourful event, Number 7 platoon which showcased Fulani culture beat others to clinch the coveted trophy while Number 5 platoon with Igbo culture and Number 9 platoon with Yoruba culture came second and third positions respectively.
