Rich Cultural Display As NYSC Holds Carnival In Anambra
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Saturday celebrated the rich cultural diversity of Nigeria as part of the orientation course for members of 2022 Batch A Stream 1 corps members.
The cultural carnival involved display various culture areas of Nigeria and inter-platoon competitions as well as sack-race, fastest dresser, egg race and other side attractions.
Speaking at the event, which was held at the Mbaukwu/Umuawulu permanent Orientation Camp, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, Coordinator of the NYSC in Anambra advised youths to embrace the rich and diverse cultures of Nigeria.
Baderinwa urged the youth to check their predisposition to embracing foreign cultures against the ones they were born into as a people.
She said there was a need to go back to the traditional family system and marriage rites as they were more amenable for greater bonding.
She commended the corps members for mastering and demonstrating good knowledge of the 10 culture areas exhibited within the short period they were on camp.
“The cultural carnival of the NYSC is for the unity and good understanding of the various groups in Nigeria, their history, their festivals, marriage rites, food and those things that make a people unique.
“We should go back to these things, may that is why their marriages were stronger instead of this western culture of meeting and proposing without attention to they way their culture permits it,” she said
Baderinwa said the orientation course had been effective in that some of the prejudices the core members had before coming to camp had been dismantled.
According to her, some of them were afraid, when they entered camp they started applying for relocation but most of them had withdrawn their requests because they now appreciate that Anambra is a land of opportunities and that the people are good.
On his part, Chief Ifeanyi Ibezi, a former lawmaker commended the NYSC for introducing a cultural carnival as it fitted with its national unity building mandate.
Ibezi said the cultural displays were an indication of Nigerian youths embracing themselves while urging them to be mindful of the lessons as they moved to their places of primary assignment.
The lawmaker who donated a cow in support of the carnival said he was available for continued partnership with the NYSC while promising to help make those posted to his community Abatete, in Idemili North Local Government Area comfortable.
“I am excited with what I saw here, I have learnt new cultures as showcased by the various platoons and ethnic groups.
“This is what we need, we must rediscover ourselves and help our youths know that Nigeria is a great country,” he said.
