Mohammed stressed that there cannot be meaningful development in the absence of an indigenous cultural approach to issues affecting the people.
This, Mohammed said, it explained why the present government is working towards curbing imperial cultural infiltration by introducing cultural approaches to developmental policies so as to enhance national development.
He spoke on Thursday at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Public Lecture series with the theme: “Imperial Cultural Illusions, Delusions and Hallucinations; Major sources of Africa’s contemporary Development crises”.
The minister who was represented by Memunat Ladi Idul-Lah, Director, International Cultural Relations, Ministry of INformation and Culture, said, “The topic of today’s public lecture is important, considering recent happenings in the polity brought about by indiscriminate assimilation of foreign cultural elements into our indigenous cultural life, which has eroded our culture, affected our daily lives patterns of behavior and have intensified the crisis in our social lives and society, thereby threatening the very fabric of our coexistence and unity as a people.
“It is in realization of this that this administration has adopted and introduced cultural approaches to development policies in Nigeria, aimed at uplifting the fortunes of majority of citizenry in order to enhance national development.
“This is pertinent, because no meaningful development can take place in the absence of an indigenous cultural approach to issues affecting the people. This explains why the present government is making concerted efforts towards curbing and, ultimately, eradicating the ugly tide of imperial cultural infiltration in our society.
“Therefore , NICO’s choice of topic for this lecture is indeed very apt, as it is aimed at deepening the understanding of Nigerians to appreciate the place of our indigenous culture as a tool for change, and to foster national integration, peace and unity, which are necessary elements for good governance and development in the country.
“ Some developed countries such as China, korea and Japan have adopted this approach and their example would show that they did not jettison their indigenous culture or allow the illusions of foreign cultures to influence their civilization, rather, they used their indigenous culture to create environments for the development of their people and nations.
“This public lecture is indeed a platform positioned not only to help the institute to achieve its mandate of cultural sensitization, which is central to her quest in facilitating the practical application of Nigerian culture in everyday activity, but also a position for intellectual discourse on topics that serve as a focus for orientation in cultural matters for decision makers at all levels governance, and other stakeholders in the private sector to assist in tackling development crises bedevilling the country. “
The minister therefore urged NICO to sustain the progress in sensitizing Nigerians and especially policy makers on the importance of indigenous culture.
Earlier, in his welcome address, NICO Executive Secretary, Mallam Ado Muhammad Yahuza said culture is a tool for national development .
Yahuza stressed that there is no future without culture, as culture is central to the development of any society.
He said, “Culture is a thing to be enjoyed and treasured, we need to be reminded that, in our day and age, it is a tool for national development, and there is no future without culture because culture is central to the development of any society as exemplified by Asian Tigers, who achieved economic transformation of their societies through culture and have made culture the cornerstone of their development agenda.”
The Guest lecturer, Prof. Sule Bello, a renowned Historian said culture is the heart of development but unfortunately, Africans have refused to give it its rightful place.
Culture, Bello stressed, has a role to play in the country’s development as it is the creation of capacity to solve problems.
He went against imperial culture which he said has not been able to provide the country the needed development and growth: adding that no development will be original or authentic without culture.
Bello also noted that differences in processes of different countries’ culture impact on development.
Speaking further he said that no culture is superior to the other and what is needed is for rule of law to be upheld and implemented.
He also added that unless the law and law enforcement agencies are given the power to arrest and prosecute those who went against there can be no peace.
