Cultural institute seeks partnership with Unesco to access fund for development

 

Dr. Olagunju Idowu, secretary general, National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (NATCOM-UNESCO) in Nigeria and Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, executive secretary and chief executive officer of the National Institute for cultural Orientation (NICO) during a meeting in Abuja

Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, executive secretary and chief executive officer of the National Institute for cultural Orientation (NICO), has said that the recent meeting between him and Dr. Olagunju Idowu, secretary general, National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (NATCOM-UNESCO) in Nigeria, is to make intentional inquiries and see how NATCOM-UNESCO can support the Institute in accessing funding opportunities for cultural development in Nigeria.
Ajiboye said when he came on board few days ago, he realized that a little bit of energy is needed to drive the core mandate of NICO to a recognized conclusion because the conversation between NICO and government has not been deep enough to make government give it what is due by recognizing what they are supposed to be..
According to him, culture plays a very important role in human development and there is every need to properly redefine our cultural understanding as a nation towards incorporating it in our governance system.

Ajiboye said his basic interest is to drive the institute’s core mandate and reposition it to take its responsibility within the dictate of the Act that created it.
Olagunju, in his response, said the kind of energy Ajiboye brought on board within a short period towards repositioning the institute will go a long way to change the narratives for the good of the culture and creative sector and the Nigerian economy in general.
While assuring him of the needed support to achieve his vision, Olagunju reiterated that NATCOM-UNESCO remains duty bond to ensure that no agency of government in Nigeria will miss any benefit emanating from the organisation.
“UNESCO believes in collaboration, especially in the area of rubbing minds together to achieve a set goal and our special duty is to get benefits from UNESCO as much as possible. While I am here, Nigeria will not lose anything anymore.

‘‘We will continue to do our best to get available information from UNESCO and send it to the appropriate quarters for them to implement while we avail ourselves for technical support if the need arises”.