In considering the role of culture for economic progression, it is inadvertently necessary to define the boundaries of our discourse,...
In considering the role of culture for economic progression, it is
inadvertently necessary to define the boundaries of our discourse,
identify the way we perceive culture in our society, the
non-implementation of well thought out cultural programmes, before
assessing the impact culture can engender in improving the life styles
of a people generally and in particular the youth.
In this context, especially when we view Nigeria as a
developing nation, I would start by saying that; the ideas, actions and
values that are most widely accepted by a group or society for cultural
mass mobilization, strategies and implementation falls within our
boundaries of discourse. Suffice to say that, reflecting culture would
mean reinvigorating its major strategies of promotion, development and
preservation through relevant agencies and institutions. Facets of
culture includes but not limited to politics, fashion, literature,
music, theatre, dance, language, food, shelter and other indigenous
craftworks. This is aimed at reawakening and reorienting the youths to
meet the challenges of nation building. For example, the two times
experiences of bringing Blacks all over the world to showcase their
cultures under the auspices of World Festival of Black Arts in 1966 in
Dakar, Senegal and in 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria remain fresh in the memory
of those who witnessed them. Sadly enough, this Festival of Black Arts
which should have been the pride and propelling force for Black
civilization, culture and education especially for the teeming African
youths, whose requisite knowledge of their culture must not diminish,
died on arrival. However, in order to nip it in the bud, it would still
be worthwhile to ruminate on the role cultural agencies and institutions
play in Nigeria. By cultural agencies and institutions we must think in
terms of administration and financing of culture in the country and how
it affects the youths who are eventually going to be recognized
tomorrow as agents and/or custodians of cultural ethos. This is so,
because, until we project culture into the various facets of human
existence, there would be no itinerary for youth development, talk less
of economic advancement for a nation. Importantly also in this
discourse, is the need to unravel the impediments for not carrying out
lofty and meaningful cultural programmes in our society as it were.
I believe that enmeshing the youths in cultural activities
would have long time business shape, influence cultural development as
well as national and international diplomatic benefits if the nation
harnesses its rich cultural diversity now and in the future. In this
regards therefore, it is important to mainstream cultural activities
whether formal or informal; whether tangible or intangible; whether
professional or amateur, as it would prepare an individual better for
real life engagement and personal skills.
Let’s remember that a child’s development is a dynamic interactive
process which must cater for his or her material; psycho motive and
cognitive dimensions in terms of how the child perceives the environment
in which he/she exists. With the high rate of modernization, scientific
and technological advancement of most societies, the tendency for a
people’s culture to gradually diminish cannot be over emphasized.
From a cognitive dimension for example, it is believed by the Igbos
that when you whistle at night, you are inviting spirit. This appears
mundane and ancient in contemporary times wouldn’t you say? Rather, we
should be thinking of how in the twenty first century Nigeria as a
nation should begin to lay emphasis on the new knowledge of man and how
the universe can be perceived? According to Okodo, (2008:331) It means
that culture should begin to influence development in urbanization,
sociocultural transformation, mass literacy, vertical and horizontal
mobility, employment opportunity and the emergency of specific
independent occupational role in our society. This is in realization of
the fact that since culture is considered a dynamic phenomenon, it
should evolve to engender some universal norms such as culture for
peace, good governance and sustainable development for economic and
societal growth. This is because, as it is widely upheld, generally that
any development planning which does not factor in cultural variables of
that society can never be sustainable.
Culture in Context
There are so many definitions of culture. However, I do not
intend to go that way, but to simply define culture in the context of my
discourse. Culture is something shared: attitudes, values, beliefs,
knowledge, arts, and other patterns of practices by almost everyone in a
particular society. Today, Nigeria is bedeviled with a lot of litany of
issues by what I have described as “The Nigerian culture”, which must
somehow be addressed. It is a culture, like that in other climes, which
should not only determine how things are done, but one that can provide
intrinsic values in our socio-cultural and economic benefits. Culture
should be able to let us see ourselves as a part of history, hence,
increase the quality of life in terms of tolerance and general
well-being of the individual and his/her community. In spite of all
these, the Nigerian Culture should help to accumulate, humanize and
organize our interactions with other peoples of the world, especially in
these days of globalization, science and technologies. In fact, this
culture should help us understand ourselves better in terms of the
undercurrents that can create quality wellbeing.
In the face of this reality therefore, I advance to position
culture as the main current of thought or behaviour of a people in order
to make such a people realize its (culture) essentiality and value in
human existence. In other words, how various cultures can become
exemplary life-patterns and reflexes that govern the behaviour of a
people. For example, seeming commitment with which we recite the pledge
and/or anthem should also reflect in the way we exhibit and express our
culture wherever we find ourselves. We should note however, that, what
is culture here is not merely a return to ancient custom and ways of
doing things. Indeed, what is regarded as culture should be what is
centred on how a people simply make frantic attempts to meet with daily
challenges of life. To further buttress this point, Asigbo, (2010:69)
reminds us that: “the economic, technological, socio-political
and other spheres of national or group life are determinants of what
finally emerge as culture for a group of people”. In this regards, I perceive culture as a refined product that is marketable even in the global market space.
Work Cited
Abone, Clementina. “Information and Communication Technologies, catalyst for Sustainable Global Development”. In Paradise in the Arts: Celebrating Prof. C.C. Agbodike. (Eds) Joy Eyisi, Ike Odimegwu and Alex Asigbo. Awka: Afab Educational Books, 2008. Pp. 3321-329
Asigbo, Alex. “Reimaging Nigerian Culture in an Age of Terror and Globalisation”. In Culture, Identity and Leadership in Nigeria. (Eds) Emmanuel Samu Dandaura and AbdulRasheed Abiodun Adeoye. Ibadan: Kraft Books Limited, 2010. Pp.67-78
Cultural Policy for Nigeria. Lagos: Federal Government Printer, 1988
Maisamari, A. M. ” Mainstreaming Culture for Economic Advancement:
Agenda for Nigerian Youths. A Paper presented at a Two-Day Workshop on
Cultural Creativity for Youth Skills Development , Organized by Nigerian
National Commission for UNESCO in Collaboration with the Federal
Ministry of Education from 13th-14th August, 2020.
Okodo, Ikechukwu. “Culture and National Development”. In Paradise in the Arts: Celebrating Prof. C.C. Agbodike. (Eds) Joy Eyisi, Ike Odimegwu and Alex Asigbo. Awka: Afab Educational Books, 2008. Pp. 331-345
Udezo, B.O.S. and Nwadialor. “Good Governance and Effective Human
Relations: Pathways to Fostering Ethno-Religious Harmony in Nigeria”. In
The Humanities and Good Governance. (Eds) A.B.C. Chiegboka et tal. Anambra: Rex Charles and Patrick Ltd, 2012. Pp. 238-245
