The Nigerian Government has taken a bold step to introduce the Nigerian Academy for Cultural Studies (NACUS) as a specialized institution to train individuals for innovative studies and the development of Nigeria’s culture and history.
Jerrymusa.com reports that the Nigerian Academy for Cultural Studies (NACUS), a specialized institution for cultural training, has received approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and accreditation to offer programs leading to the award of National Diploma in Cultural Administration & Human Resources (NDCAHR).
Additionally, its postgraduate diploma program is affiliated with Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).
Nigeria Boosts Rich Culture And History
This accreditation and affiliation provide opportunities for individuals to pursue higher education in cultural studies and enrol in Master’s degree programs using the Academy’s Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Administration.
The rebranding and elevation of the institution, formerly known as the Training School of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), to a full-fledged higher institution for cultural education and training, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, which recognizes the importance of culture in policy making.
According to NICO’s Executive Secretary, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, this development indicates that Nigeria under the present administration has acknowledged the need to prioritize culture and incorporate adequate cultural content in school curricula. This will help shed foreign cultural influences and emphasize Nigeria’s cultural values, leading to a stronger national identity.
Ajiboye emphasized that no nation can attain national identity without cultural identity. The establishment of NACUS, the first specialized institution to teach culture, is a bold step by the Tinubu administration.
With approval from NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, the government will begin to view culture as an essential element in daily life.
The institution will have campuses in four geographical locations: Abuja, Northern Zone, Southern Zone, and Eastern Zone. Ajiboye disclosed that the process is ongoing to sensitize the Head of Service of the Federation to ensure that certificates from the academy are recognized for employment in the civil service and beyond, benefiting cultural workers, entrepreneurs, hotels, and tourism agencies.
The rebranding of the institution is a significant effort by the Tinubu-led administration to make Nigerian youths proficient and prominent in cultural heritage, creating job opportunities and putting Nigeria’s cultural heritage on the global pedestal, generating foreign exchange.