At school’s cultural fiesta, parents, students harp on national unity

Parents, students and lovers of culture, who gathered at the Bishop Howells Memorial School’s cultural day in Lagos, have called on Nigerians to look beyond divisive elements of ethnic and tribal differences and embrace love, peace and patriotism.

This, they agreed, would contribute immensely to uniting the country and prepare it for the needed growth and development.

The event, which held recently at the school premises in Bariga, featured dance, songs and other activities associated with the various cultures of the country.

The students, who represented all the nation’s geo-political zones, performed to the excitement and admiration of their parents and guests dressed in colourful beads, beautiful accessories and trendy traditional attires.

In his remarks, the principal, Tunde Oduwole, noted that culture creates favourable opportunities for acquiring knowledge and physical development.

With the theme, Unity in our cultural diversity, Oduwole asserted that the nation’s target and vision could be met if all citizens forgot questions of where they came from, colours, languages, local government, state of origin, and began to see one another as brothers.

“When children are born, the various cultures and norms are taught; when you do this, you are ensuring that the future would be great and not bleak. If the vision of a particular nation is not handed over to children, if they are not made to imbibe and understand it, then they can’t live it.”

He added, “as an institution, we are poised to producing students who are round in education, who are not only made out in book learning but the totality of education which involves sound character, morals, deep spirituality and vast academic work”

Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Mr. Eyo Ekpo, said the event is necessary in every school curriculum, as it inculcates the cultural lives of the various states in the children, leaving them united in the course of achieving national development.