The newly established Federal government-specialised monotechnic for cultural studies called the Nigerian Academy for Cultural Studies (NACUS), is expected to commence its academic session in September 2025, with National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma programmes.
The institution would take off with pilot campuses in Lagos, Cross River, Ogbomosho in Oyo State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Caleb Nor, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
He noted that the Monotechnic, which is powered by NICO, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, is established to train Nigerian citizens on dynamics in cultural studies and instill in them, cultural education to boost cultural pride in Nigeria.
Executive Secretary/CEO of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, highlighted key role of culture in national development, stating no nation could develop without first recognizing its cultural elements.
According to him, countries like Japan, China, and Korea have demonstrated that national development is indeed a function of cultural realization, alluding to the fact that part of the reasons why Africa is backward as a continent is purely as a result of cultural imperialism, which we need to stand and fight against.
Ajiboye explained that with the curriculum of the Academy already approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and its registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, certificates to be awarded to graduates of the monotechnic for National Diploma in Cultural Administration Resource Management and Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Administration could be used for employment and career progression.
He maintained that the curriculum for the Academy is designed to foster and boost cultural knowledge in a competitive way, as comparative cultures will be studied to appreciate that Nigeria’s culture is not in any way inferior to any other culture in the world.
“It is gratifying to note that those in the arts and culture sector in all states of the federation, now have a specialized certification that qualifies them to be professionals as the civil service will acknowledge the certificates for promotion and employment.
“The National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma programmes are open but not limited to cultural officers, theatre practitioners, workers in the hospitality sector, filmmakers, and foreign students who are interested in Nigerian culture. These certificates qualify Nigerians all over the world to be cultural officers in the nation’s foreign embassies, which is indeed a necessity at this point in Nigeria’s development.
“The Academy is also introducing courses such as Cultural Technology and the Cultural Pharmacology, with the aim to contribute to the GDP of Nigeria by developing a few things locally that will reduce pressure on foreign exchange in Nigeria,” statement added.
While the Cultural Technology department is expected to look into what the Nigerian environment can produce, in terms of natural resources to be easily converted to human usage through technology, the Pharmacology department will work on existing and yet to be created botanical gardens on how to convert our plants into capsules or tablets for usage,
To support Federal Governments interest in promoting cultural heritage through education, the Cross River State Government has graciously donated a befitting building to serve as the South-South campus of the Academy, in demonstration of its commitment to enriching cultural research, preservation and promotion in the state.
Similarly, the Soun of Ogbomosho, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye has equally donated a building to serve as campus for the Academy in the South-West region.
While appreciating the Federal Government for establishing an Academy for cultural training, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye says the entire Ogbomosholand is grateful for the opportunity to have a campus of the Academy situated within the region, stressing his commitment to support the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of his people.
He also emphasized his commitment to the success of the Academy, saying it would serve as a hub for cultural studies and research that will not only promote our cultural values but also foster unity and understanding amongst the people of Nigeria.
