World Culture Day: Minister says culture can stimulate peaceful coexistence

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the culture sector has the potential to stimulate peaceful coexistence and unity in the country.

The minister said this during his welcome speech on the celebration of 2016 World Day for Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Development on Saturday in Abuja.

“The aim of the celebration in Nigeria is to join the rest of the world in drawing global attention to the contributions of culture to human existence and promotion of global peace and security.

“Dialogue, music, theatre, arts, craft and other creative ingenuity of our people can effectively stimulate peaceful coexistence, unity, socio-economic prosperity, human capital and infrastructure development in our diversified economy.

“Culture creates wealth, promotes a sense of belonging and has the capacity to bring all strata of people together for economic growth and development,’’ he said.

The minister reiterated his passion and vision to strategically reposition the country’s unique cultural sector as a revenue generating sector that would add value to the country’s Gross Domestic Products.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Ayotunde Adesugba.

Earlier, the Director-General of United Nations (UN) Education, Science and Cultural Organisation, Ms Irina Bokova said that celebrating cultural diversity meant being aware of the ties that “`binds us to our environment’’.

“Culture is a sustainable development accelerator whose potential has been recognised in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development by the UN

“Culture offers the unique opportunity to reconcile the economic and social aspect of development.

“This is because cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature as clearly stated in the UNESCO Universal

Declaration on Cultural Diversity, adopted in 2001.

“Celebrating cultural diversity means opening up new perspective for sustainable development and promoting creative industries and cultural entrepreneurship as sources of millions of jobs worldwide particularly for young people including women.

“The enemies of human rights always attack cultural diversity, which symbolises the freedom to be and to think and which is unbearable to them,’’ Bokova said.

She called on all member states to strengthen the spirit of World Culture Day as a “peaceful weapon against the temptations of isolationism, closure and exclusion.’’

NAN reports that Bokova was represented at the event by the UNESCO cultural Expert in the country office, Abuja, Mrs Nebona Adele.

In her vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry appreciated all the Directors in the ministry and Heads of Parastatals under the ministry.

“I am positive that next year’s edition will showcase the positive outcome of the creative sector in our diversified economy.’’

Adesugba was represented by Mrs Grace Isu-Gekpe, the Director, Entertainment and creative services in the ministry.

NAN reports that dignitaries at the event include the Director-Generals of National Commission for Museums and Monument and Centre for Black and African Art and Civilisation, Malam Yusuf Usman and Sir Ferdinand Anikwe.

Also at the event was Mr Seyi Womiloju, the Director of Cultural Industries and Heritage of the ministry.

NAN reports that the General Conference of UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in Paris, France, on Nov. 2, 2001.

The day was declared on Dec. 2, 2002 at the 249th resolution, adopted at the 57th session of the UN General Conference but first observed in 2013.

It is annually marked and celebrated on May 21 for people to deepen their understanding of cultural diversity.

Although the declaration was the culmination of years of work, it was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The adoption reaffirmed the need for intercultural dialogue to prevent segregation and fundamentalism.
However, the day tends to be marked in countries that embraced their varied cultural history and acknowledged the importance of embracing it.