Sustain Legacy of Abuja Carnival, Igbinedion Charges Minister

The founder of Igbinedion University Okada in Edo State, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion has charged the minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke to sustain the legacy of Abuja carnival. The Esama of Benin Kingdom, who expressed dissatisfaction with the dwindling fortune of the recently concluded Abuja National carnival urged Duke to sustain the annual event, which he founded and nurtured from the outset. He made the statement in Abuja during his conferment as the Grand Icon of Nigerian Culture during the 11th Edition of National Council for Arts and Council (NCAC) Honours Lecture/Awards Series with the theme, ‘Work Ethics, Productivity and Public Morality’. The NCAC Honours Lecture/Awards Series is a programme designed to celebrate Nigerian culture by identifying and recognizing those that have contributed immensely to the promotion of our cultural heritage. According to him, “I believe that we need to focus on inspiring our youths and giving them opportunities to discover and develop stronger desire for cultural themes and cultivate the right mindsets and attitudes towards learning.” Also speaking, the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu represented by the State Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Mrs Susan Gana said that the honours lecture was aimed at “deepening our understanding of arts and culture” even as she encouraged Nigerians not to relent in protecting our cultural heritage. The Governor, who received the Grand Award for Outstanding Patron of the Culture sector, harped on the need to access “ourselves as individual and a nation in order for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the comity of nations”. In his response, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke acknowledged the robust efforts of the Chief Executive of NCAC; Mrs Dayo Keshi barely 90 days after her assumption of office, describing Nigeria is a cultural melting point for Africa. He maintained that the most important common wealth of Nigeria was domiciled in the sector, noting that Nigeria Movie industry was the second largest in the world.