The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has called on youths in various communities to explore and harness the benefits of Nigeria’s cultural diversity for personal and societal development. The Anambra State Coordinator of NYSC, Blessing Iruma, made this appeal during the 2023 Batch C Stream 1 Corps Members cultural carnival held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe NYSC Unity Permanent Orientation Camp in Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, Awka Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The cultural carnival, organized by NYSC, served as a platform to showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage, emphasizing aspects that youths can explore and turn into wealth through exportation. Iruma highlighted that the event exposed Nigerian youths to the rich cultural diversities and languages of the country, breaking down social, gender, and religious barriers.
Ten tribes were selected to participate in the carnival due to time constraints in the camps. The aim was to stimulate creativity, promote local content, and encourage economic activities across communities. Iruma urged youth organizations to recognize the benefits of Nigerian culture, encouraging them to harvest and leverage these cultural aspects for personal and societal development.
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, represented by Chibuzo Udeh from the Commissioner for Youth Development’s office, commended NYSC for promoting Nigerian culture. He emphasized that Nigeria’s culture, shaped by diverse ethnic groups, should be embraced by corps members with love and respect for one another’s cultural norms, values, and religion.
At the conclusion of the cultural carnival competition, the Fourth Platoon secured the first position, followed by the Third Platoon in second place, and the 10th Platoon in third place. Various cultural presentations and competitions, including best king and queen attire, creatively decorated canopies, catching the train, knotting of tie, sack race, and egg race, were contested by corps members.
The Igwe of Umuawulu, Joel Egwuonu, expressed gratitude to the government and NYSC management for organizing the carnival, offering blessings to the corps members and wishing them success in their future endeavors.