Lagos, Sept. 20, 2014 (NAN) Sir Ferdinand Anikwe, Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), on Saturday urged African countries to accelerate their quest for development through usage of culture and indigenous languages.
Anikwe made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) afer a media briefing at CBAAC headquarters in Lagos.
According to him, it is clear that African cultures and languages have not been sufficiently incorporated into its quest for development.
“Africa has to explore the neglected resources, culture and traditional ways of life in its quest for rapid development.
“Although Africa has tried so many models in its efforts to drive development, its culture and languages should be the spring board to sum it up.
“They impose forms and order on the forces around them which involve tangible and intangible ways by which it adapts to its environment in a bid to leave the world a better place,” he said.
He said Africans should build and strengthen the existing curricula for incorporating key components of their cultures and general ways of life into national development drive.
“Africans should enhance the achievement of African Union’s new resolve to put culture in the front burner of African renaissance.
“They should also create a renewed awareness of the pivotal role of culture in national development,” he said.
CBAAC is a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and it was established in 1979.
Anikwe was a former Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Arts in Enugu State before he was appointed to replace former Director-General, Prof. Tunde Babawale. (NAN)
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