The Principal Junior Secondary Schoool, JSS Mpape, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Onugwu Ngozi, has advocated cultural preservation for the future generations.
“Our culture is our pride and our identity. Nigeria is a great country with various ethnic groups and different cultural heritage that should not be allowed to go into extinction,” she said.
The Principal stated this during her opening remarks at the 2024 cultural day celebration held in the school on Wednesday.
According to her, the essence of organizing the cultural day activities was to sensitize the students on the importance of culture and the need to preserve it, create a forum to appreciate others’ culture and forster unity and love among us.
Chairman of the occasion, Donald Ikyogbe, said the economic hardship Nigeria is witnessing today was as a result of civilization and abandoning of cultural norms, beliefs, values and foods that are healthy to the body system.
He said prices of food items have skyrocketed in the market as a result of neglecting our local foods that are healthy.
He applauded the management of JSS Mpape for organizing such an event to educate and sensitize the students on the importance of culture which cannot be over emphasized in the society.
According to him, civilization has eluded many cultures as many languages are going into extinction as many parents refuse to teach their children their culture and traditions.
In his remarks, the Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB, director, Dr Alhassan Sule, said our cultural diversity is not just a reflection of our background and heritage but also a testament of our strength as a nation.
He urged the students to respect one another’s culture and see themselves as one irrespective of their cultural background.
There was a march-past of participating cultural groups, inspection of cultural meals from the various cultural groups and a unity dance.
Some of the cultural groups that displayed include; Igala, Tiv, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa/Fulani, Niger-Delta and Gbagyi.
It was a large gathering of parents, teachers and guardians all dressed in their various cultural attires to witness the colourful event.
Present at the cultural day were: traditional rulers, parents, teachers, invited guests and students among others.