FOR peace to be engendered in the country, culture of love for one another and respect for core values must be restored. This was the submission of the culture community as Nigeria marked the World Day for Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Development last Monday.At the occasion, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke preached tolerance among people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.He said the essence of the day was to foster unity among mankind by affirming and respecting people's differences.The World Day of Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Development, is a universal declaration on cultural diversity, which was adopted by all UNESCO member states at the 31st Session of UNESCO General Conference of 2001.Since then, the day is observed yearly in Nigeria by the culture and tourism ministry.This year, the Ministry defied the prevailing atmosphere in the country to entertain guests at the Women Development Centre, venue of the event, to traditional tunes and cultural performances by various groups including school children.AS the country goes through a trying period in its history, Duke stressed the need for Nigerians to respect the diversity from which the country derives its strength as a nation.'We must co-exist together by embracing one another with the knowledge that we have come too far as a people to break up now. We must, therefore, as a people, highlight those things that unite us and diminish things that tear us apart.'With Promoting the Culture of Peace in Nigeria as theme, the Minister warned those, who espouse hate, promote destruction and conflicts to realise that it is only through dialogue that pains and grievances can be assuaged.'They should therefore engage government in meaningful dialogue and rapprochement for sustainable peace in the country,' he said.Also speaking was the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, who said the only way various ethnic and religious groups can co-exist peacefully was to respect and tolerate others' differences.'To live together, we need to show love to one another and realise that we are from the same country. We do not have any other country than Nigeria. So, we should tolerate one another in spite of our difference and that is what the world culture day is all about ' to appreciate our diversity as far as culture is concerned and the Ministry is marking it as prescribed by UNESCO.'In line with its mandate to promote cultural values among Nigerians, Ayakoroma informed that the Institute has focused on programmes and activities that stimulate revitalising cultural values as well as foster national unity.He made reference tod the two-day national conference organised recently by the institute targeting traditional rulers and local government authorities as key participants. 'We believe that these people are keys to the realisation of peace in the country,' he said.For the World Culture Day celebration, the Institute, through its secondary school cultural clubs, brought the younger generations to listen to discourse on peace and national unity.The lecture had Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja as guest speaker.Entitled Current Ethno-Religious Crises in Nigeria: Particular Reference to Boko Haram, she listed some measures towards curbing violence and underscored the need for a cultural policy that incorporates cultural promotion through peace and harmonious co-existence. 'The promotion of cultural diversity through peace can further curb the Boko Haram crises, when agencies with the oversight of culture, information and national orientation, work out structures for peace building with grass root input,' she said.
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