Igbo group calls for: An Igbo cultural organization Igbariam Heritage Group has urged cultural enthusiasts to promote Nigeria’s diverse arts and culture to promote national unity and integration.
The group’s founder, Mr Ikechukwu Kabakwu, made the call in an interview with the Newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
Arts and culture, he believes, are powerful tools for promoting tolerance and understanding among Nigerians across tribal and religious lines.
He decried that rising insecurity across the country, as well as secessionist movements in some parts of the country, had sowed discontent among many Nigerians.
However, he stated that wrong perceptions of one another can be erased through the promotion and acceptance of the country’s diverse arts and cultural heritage.
Despite the call for secession by some in the South East, Kabakwu believes that the wrong perception of ‘Ndigbo’ by the rest of the country can be changed through the promotion of Igbo arts and culture.
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“People don’t know much about our culture, so they have a misunderstanding of who we are,” he said.
“People nowadays only hear about the activities of IPOB, MASSOB, and other secessionists, but we want to change that by promoting Igbo cultural arts and entertainment.
“We want to show the world that Ndigbo has something special to offer, and it isn’t just because our people are hardworking and industrious.
“We are also attempting to identify with the people’s culture and tradition,” he said.
Kabakwu explained that the group will launch an aggressive campaign to change any negative narrative and image created by South East secessionists.
Also speaking, the group’s Executive Director, Mr Samson Obiora, revealed that the campaign will kick off in Igbariam town, Anambra state, in collaboration with leading Igbo artists.
According to him, the initiative will provide jobs for local artisans and artists, as well as a platform for Igbo entertainers and content creators to reach a wider audience with positive messages.
“God has endowed the Igbo people with unique qualities and a rich material culture, which we must use to serve our country if we truly want to see a united Nigeria.”
“As a result, we believe that engaging with culture can be a powerful tool for changing how the rest of the world perceives our people,” he added.
