The Ondo State coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Mrs Victoria Nnenna Ani, has said that the best way to attract honour and pride to Nigerian culture is to globalise its outlook.
Ani, who presided over the cultural carnival at the NYSC orientation camp, Ikare-Akoko for the 2021 Batch ‘C’ (Stream 1) corps members said that the graduate youths should mobilise support for Nigerian culture and identify with it on a global stage.
Ani asserted that every tribe in the country was blessed with a rich culture that could attract global attention if properly harnessed.
“As graduate youths who desire traversing foreign lands after your service year, the best way to earn their respect is to promote your cultural identity and encourage them to see you as someone who is proud of your heritage,” she said.
Speaking on the theme, ‘our diversity is our strength’, the coordinator said that all components that made up Nigeria should come together and forge a common front to export its cultural values beyond the shores of the country.
The NYSC Ondo State boss was of the opinion that other regions should follow the good example laid down in a particular geopolitical zone in which a day is set aside in a week and code named Cultural Day in which it is mandatory for all the students and civil servants to put on fabrics that is peculiar to their origin.
“I am not against anybody who is adorning wears or lifestyle of culture of other people but what I am saying is that no one will help us to blow our trumpet if we refuse to blow it ourselves. The campaign to appear indigenous in our outlook and think global begins with you,” she said.
During the occasion, platoons identified with and presented various dances.
Platoon number 6 platoon which showcased Fulani culture garnered 90% to win the silverware.
Number 4 platoon with Urhobo presentation polled 85.5% to clinch the second position and narrowly beat number 5 platoon which put up Calabar culture on stage with 85%.
