The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members across the country on Monday converged on the Area 1 Old Parade Ground, Abuja, to showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the corps members, adorned in different attires, are gathered for the annual NYSC sports and cultural festival.
The theme of this year’s is “promoting sports and culture for enduring peace, unity and national development’’.
The annual cultural festival employs dance and drama as tools to enrich and deepen the aim of the scheme.
The festival includes dancing competition, drama and comedy with potential of unveiling abundant talents within the service scheme.
Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, Director-General, NYSC, applauded the performance of the corps members, noting that the country was full of potentials.
He said that the scheme would continue to encourage the unity of the country and showcase its inherent cultural heritage.
Olawumi said that the scheme had made in-roads into all facets of the country’s national life, adding that showcasing the country’s cultural heritage was an ingredient for national development.
Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the supervising Minister, Ministry of Youth Development, lauded the effort of the corps members.
“I wish to encourage all cultural associations, professional performing artists such as the Actors Guild of Nigeria and the movie industry to show keen interest in the NYSC cultural festival.’’
He said that embracing the country’s indigenous cultural heritage and value was a worthwhile venture and would reduce the craze for foreign culture.
Mr Kabowei Oyinkuro, a corps member from Ebonyi, said that the cultural festival was an eye opener which had given him a sense of belonging.
“The festival helps to foster unity among the different corps members and it has made me to understand the cultural heritage of the country,’’ he said.
Mr Ohaesiaku Chibuke, also a corps member serving in Benue, said that the festival would remain evergreen in his memory for exposing the different cultures of the country.
NAN reports that NYSC members from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are participating in the festival. (NAN)
