Reviving Cultural Values: NICO Charts Path To National Renewal

Nigeria’s quest for peace, unity, and development has often been bogged down by issues of moral decline, insecurity, corruption, and weak national cohesion. But the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) believes the antidote lies not in imported solutions, but in a return to Nigeria’s time-tested cultural values.

The Institute, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, has embarked on a nationwide seminar series aimed at reawakening Nigerians to the power of cultural orientation as a tool for nation-building.

Speaking on the initiative, NICO’s Executive Secretary/CEO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, stressed that revamping cultural values is the most sustainable solution to Nigeria’s lingering problems. He argued that a people intentional about upholding their ethical and cultural practices will naturally reduce crime, foster unity, and strengthen national behaviour.

“With over 250 ethnic groups, our diversity is both our strength and our challenge. But if we learn to manage and deploy it for the collective good, we will reinforce the moral and cultural foundations of Nigeria,” Ajiboye said.

He lamented the decline in ethics and patriotism, noting that cultural values once held in high esteem have eroded, leaving society vulnerable to lawlessness and selfish tendencies. “A nation without concerted efforts at moderating or determining the expected behaviour of its citizens is a nation in chaos,” he warned.

The NICO boss insisted that Nigeria’s younger generation must be reoriented with the right values if the country hopes to achieve lasting peace and development. “We must bring back the discipline, respect, and patriotism that once defined our people,” he added.

The Institute’s seminar series on Ethics, Values and Management of Cultural Diversity in Nigeria is being staged across the six geo-political zones of the country. The first edition was held in Abuja for the North-Central zone on September 11, 2025. The South-West edition is scheduled for September 24 in Akure, Ondo State, with subsequent zones to follow.

Through this initiative, NICO hopes to steer Nigerians back to the principles that once bound communities together and to chart a course where culture becomes not just heritage, but the foundation of national renewal.