REVIEWING
NIGERIA’S CULTURAL HERITAGE AS THE 2015 WORLD DAY FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY IS
MARKED TODAY THURSDAY MAY 21
Heritage can be defined as the
inheritance such as buildings, monuments, or any property of an individual or a
society. Whilst, cultural heritage are the inherited qualities, traditions,
ideas, or style of living of an individual or a given society, which have
continued over many years, especially when they are considered to be of
historical importance.
On the other hand, cultural diversity is defined as the situation
whereby the cultural heritage of a person, group or society varies or consists of
different conditions, qualities, or types. In other words, the diversity of a
given culture is the state at which it comprises or made up of varieties.
Today Thursday May 21, the world over is celebrating the 2015 World Day
for Cultural Diversity. In 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural
Diversity; hence in December 2002, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in
its unanimous resolution, declared May 21 annually to be the World Day for
Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The Day provides us with an
opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and
to learn to live together better.
Undoubtedly, cultures such as dancing, masquerading, dressing, sewing,
hunting, fishing, singing, wrestling, moulding of sculptures, painting, and so
on, are essential developmental tools in any country. Culture is strongly
connected with identity; and identity expressed through culture is a necessity
for all human developments. It creates the fundamental building blocks in our
respective personalities and in the ties that link us to various communities
and the nation we find ourselves.
Culture plays a unique and crucial role in a development policy
especially issues relating to human rights. A free and staunch cultural
heritage has the tendency of promoting other rights and values to include
freedom of expression, diversity and debate about needs in a society. In the same
vein, culture is a key player in the link between freedom of expression and
democratization.
Culture can also encourage the economic growth of either a nation or an
individual. Creative areas including music, paintings, drawings and sewing, can
equally serve as revenue sources. In fact, the encounter between culture,
creativity, technology and economy embodies a great potential in creating work
places and increasing exports, and also contributes to social inclusion.
Culture can also assist in checking socio-political crises or
differences. It ensures unity during crisis, and influences identity, debate
and dialogue; thus, it is needed for nation building, and for peace and
reconciliation. Needless to say; it inspires change, which we all anticipate.
Survey indicates that cultural cooperation is one of the most equality-oriented
forms of co-operations in existence.
The entertainment industry cannot be left out while discussing the
impact of cultural heritage in nation building. Similarly, the tourism of any
country cannot be discussed without mentioning the country’s cultural
diversity. It is obvious that the cultural heritage of any society contributes
over sixty-five percent (65%) of its tourist sector, which remains one of the
paramount Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources of any developed society.
Surely, tourism is one of the backbones or engine rooms of any developed
country in the world, and this cannot be possible without the impact of
cultural diversity of the country in question. This implies that Nigeria, which
is made of over two hundred and fifty (250) ethnic groups in which each of the
groups is endowed with different cultural resources, can as well consider
harnessing her tourist sector as she is currently thinking of economic
diversification or beyond oil and gas.
As the world celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity, there is a
compelling need for us to acknowledge that our cultural diversity is a
stimulator of creativity, and investing in the creativity can transform
societies. Hence, it is our civic responsibility to develop education and
intercultural skills in our young ones as well as learn to live together in the
diversity of our cultures, languages and religions in order to bring the
desired change.
In view of this, there is no gain reiterating
the fact that it is high time the Nigeria’s cultural heritage is reviewed by
the appropriate quarters or authorities; so that, credible ones would be
sustained or harnessed via institution of cultural carnivals by both federal
and state governments, promotion of the various existing communal cultural
festivals, establishment of museums, and other related practices, while the
unacceptable ones would either be addressed or completely abolished, with a
sole motive of boosting the country’s tourist industry as well as encouraging human
empowerment. Think about it!
COMR FRED
NWAOZOR
(The Media Ambassador)
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
