Youths in different communities have been asked by the National Youths Service Corps to consider the advantages of Nigerian cultural variety, gather them, and utilize them for the betterment of society and oneself.
The call was made on Sunday at the 2023 Batch C Stream 1 Corps Members cultural festival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe NYSC Unity Permanent Orientation Camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, Awka Local Government Area, Anambra State, by Blessing Iruma, the NYSC Coordinator for Anambra State.
Iruma clarified that the NYSC organized the cultural carnival as a way to promote the facets of the nation’s cultural history that young people can investigate and potentially export for financial gain.
She revealed that due to time limits in the camps, ten tribes were chosen to take part in the carnival.
She said, “This NYSC cultural carnival is a display of cultures of different ethnic nationalities in the country. It is a periodic event which serves as an avenue to showcase the cultural heritage of Nigeria.
“There are some aspects of the country’s culture like music, traditional food, systems of marriage as well as art exhibitions being displayed today that youths could carefully harvest and turn into wealth by exporting them.
“The NYSC cultural carnival exposes Nigerian youths to rich cultural diversities and languages of the country, collapses all forms of social, gender, religious barriers and extends the hands of fellowship across the cultural groups, helps reduce prejudices about certain cultures and boosts economic activities across communities.
“It stimulates in corps members unusual creativities and innovations, promotes local content like local or native fabrics and attires, and is an avenue to learn from different cultures without losing your identity as we stand politically to understand ourselves better.
“Through such means, many Nigerian youths could be gainfully employed. We urged youth organisations in various communities to look at the benefits of the Nigerian culture, harvest them and use them to develop themselves and the society at large.”
The commissioner for youth development, Chibuzo Udeh, spoke on behalf of the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who praised the NYSC for promoting Nigerian culture and noted that the nation’s diverse ethnic groups have shaped Nigerian culture.
The governor commanded the corps members to respect and love one another’s culture, customs, values, and religion.
Following the cultural carnival competition, the Fourth Platoon secured the top spot, followed by the Third Platoon in second place and the 10 Platoon in third place.
Corps members from the 10 platoons contested in cultural presentation, best king and queen attire, best creatively decorated canopies, catching the train, knotting of tie, sack race, and egg race, among others.
The Igwe of Umuawulu, Joel Egwuonu appreciated the government, and NYSC management for organising the carnival.
He gave the corps members a blessing and wished them well in all of their future endeavors.
