Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), Mrs Oluwabunmi Amao, has identified culture as a powerful tool in shaping children to become responsible adults.
Speaking on Wednesday, June 16, at an event themed ‘African Culture Fit for Children’ CBAAC organized to mark the 2021 Day of the African Child at Oniru, Lagos, the DG affirmed that African culture is potent enough to mould children into what parents want them to be.
Amao, who explained that organizers chose the theme to call attention to how civilization is eroding our positive cultural values, said it was time parents acted.
She said, “I recall with nostalgia how we were brought up through values that were rooted in our culture and tradition such as those of respect for elders and constituted authorities, hard work and productivity, honesty and chastity, decency, good neighbourliness and the concepts of Omoluabi, amongst several others. Unfortunately, these have all become very scarce commodities among our children.”
Amao further decried the almost total collapse of cultural values and morality in today’s Nigeria, adding that social media has not helped matters.
“It is lamentable that vices such as indecent dressing, get-rich-quick syndrome, yahoo-yahoo, lack of respect, and kidnapping have become the resultant effect of the lack of proper upbringing of our children. The advent of social media has also compounded issues. The family culture which was obtained in the past is gradually dying. Most families are now closer to their phones and other internet gadgets at the expense of their families, thereby neglecting their children.”
She said that the onus lies on parents to ensure that their children and wards are nurtured in accordance with Nigeria’s rich cultural values and tradition.
“Indeed, there are no better ways of projecting our rich cultural heritage other than carrying the younger generation along. By providing a platform for them such as the one we are witnessing,” Amao said.
The event featured competitive activities for schools, including cultural dance, drama, debate, poetry rendition and fashion parade.
The contestants did justice to the debate topic, ‘Is African culture important in the upbringing of the African child?’ with exciting submissions.
At the end of the programme, chaired by the founder & Managing Director, Oxbridge Tutorial College, Dr Olufemi Ogunsanya, Chrisland Schools won the debate. Christ Redeemers College and FSTC, Yaba came second and third, respectively.
Cannon James Pearce Anglican College, Home Science Association School and STC College took first, second and third positions in drama/cultural dance.
Topgrade Secondary School emerged first in the poetry competition with Cannon James Pearce Anglican College and Chrisland Schools contenting themselves with second and third positions.
Chrisland Schools was the best in the fashion parade contest, followed by Home Science Association School and Dowen College.
Chrisland Schools also emerged as the Best Overall School while one of its students, Mafeng Gyang, was the Best Debator.