Nigeria is not a jumbled, jangling multi-cultural profusion, unassimilable
\ninto anything whole. Nigeria is a shattered country, a wasteland only to a
\nmind too depressed to endow it with any organizing meaning. Our culture
\nhas always been our most powerful asset. One without culture is like one
\nwithout roots. It is the culture of a people that drives the policy
\ndecision of any nation. In the Cultural Policy for Nigeria, culture is
\ndefined as the totality of the way of life evolved by a people in their
\nattempts to meet the challenge of living in their environment, which gives
\norder and meaning to their social, political, economic, aesthetic and
\nreligious norms and modes of organization thus distinguishing a people
\nfrom their neighbours.<\/p>\n
It goes on to state that culture consists of material, institutional,
\nphilosophical and creative aspects. The material dimension entails all
\nthat has to do with artifacts such as tools, clothing, food, medicine,
\nutensils, housing. The institutional deals with the political, social,
\nlegal and economic structures erected to help achieve material and
\nspiritual objectives. The philosophical focuses on ideas, beliefs and
\nvalues; while the creative concerns a people\u2019s literature as well as
\ntheir visual and performing arts which are normally moulded by, as
\nwell as help to mould other aspects of culture.<\/p>\n
Culture is, perhaps, the most important ministry. Unfortunately,
\nprevious government never saw it in that light. Our culture is all that
\nwe need to drive our economy and distinguish ourselves as a people. The
\nimpoverishness of the cultural sector, especially low funding, is
\nalarming. The Federal Government has viewed arts and culture as
\nunworthy financial patronage.\u00a0 There is a sense of defeat and chaos in
\nthe cultural sector utterly unredeemed by wisdom.<\/p>\n
I believe the appointment of Lai Mohammed is about to change this vital
\nsector. His appointment is unimpeachably precise. The man is
\nelectrically authentic.\u00a0 I am of the view\u00a0 that this bright-level headed
\nman will solidify Nigeria position on the African art-map. Most
\nministers in the past had no idea on how to run this ministry and their
\nprescriptions were too wooly minded and impractical. Mohammed will
\ninvest the culture ministry with his star power and his credibility. His
\nhigh-wattage advocacy will help the cause of the sector. It gladdens my
\nheart that the Culture Minister is an ambitious man. He has always been:
\nambitious is how Lai Mohammed rolls. As man of a socially conscious
\nstreak, I believe he will uplift the sector.<\/p>\n
There are certain institutions in the Federal Ministry of Culture
\nvested with power to promote and sponsor arts and artistes in Nigeria.
\nThese institutions have been ineffective and virtually moribund for
\nreasons best know to them. These\u00a0 \u00a0include The National Council for
\nArts and Culture, the National Institute for Cultural Orientation,
\nNational Commissions for Museums and Monuments, Centre for Black and
\nAfrican Arts and Civilization, the National Gallery of Arts and
\nNational Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria. Apart from the last
\ntwo that has impacted a bit on our cultural space ,others have failed
\nwoefully over the years. We need vibrant men at the helm of these
\ninstitutions so as to inject punch and vitality into them.<\/p>\n
The National Council for arts and Culture (NCAC) is supposed to be the
\nengine room of the cultural sector but over the years the institution
\nhas proved to be a failure.\u00a0 The National Council for Arts and
\nCulture(Amendment) decree no.5 of 1987 vests NCAC with powers to
\nestablish with the approval of the minister, cultural centres,
\ntheatres, arts galleries and craft centres, for the promotion of arts
\nand culture. The body is also empowered to establish for the purpose
\nof carrying out its functions under this act, a national endowment for
\nthe arts. In view of this, the NCAC\u00a0 is primarily responsible to
\npromote the development of music, traditional dancing, drama, opera,
\nfilms, photography, folklore, oral tradition, literature, poetry,
\npainting, sculpture, architecture, town planning and general arts,
\nwoodwork, embroidery, weaving and similar crafts-by offering financial
\ngrants and logistic support.\u00a0 \u00a0The minister should appoint a competent
\nhand for this institution.<\/p>\n
Alhaji Mohammed should strive to bring grace to the entertainment
\nindustry. This man of a stern but sincere look should encourage the
\ngovernment to have to new and healthy look at the sector.\u00a0 This is
\nnecessary now that that Nigerian music has struck her poppiest most
\ncontemporary note. Nigerian artistes are unstoppable fonts of
\ncreativity, driven to follow their impulses and present their art to an
\nappreciable audience. They are busy unleashing a set of tantalizing new
\nmaterials. Our music is layered and deep on every release.<\/p>\n
Nigerians obsession to motion picture is one of a kind and over the top.
\nNigerians are voracious movie watchers.\u00a0 The minister should ensure that
\nthe movie industry gets all the necessary assistance from the
\ngovernment. He should also encourage the growth of cinema because it is
\npractically at its lowest ebb in the country. Collectively, Indians buy
\n4 billion cinema tickets evey year why Americans buy 1.2 billion. I wish
\nour new minister outstanding success and may the grace of God and that
\nof our Lord Jesus\u00a0 Christ abide with him.<\/p>\n
By Ikechukwu Orji<\/p>\n
Orji is a Journalist and Media Consultant.<\/p>\n
08023624097<\/p>\n
ikechukwuorji@yahoo. com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nigeria is not a jumbled, jangling multi-cultural profusion, unassimilable into anything whole. Nigeria is a shattered country, a wasteland only to a mind too depressed to endow it with any…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n