THEME: CULTURE FOR GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS

DATE: 21ST MAY, 2022.

World day for Cultural diversity dialogue and development is a day to remind ourselves that “we can not have development and Economic growth if we don’t recognize diversity.

The goal of sustaining peace and prevention of conflict can only be achieved if we learn to live with each other, understand each other and tolerate each other’s differences.

21st May every year is a day set aside as the world day for cultural diversity for dialogue and development by the General Assembly in it’s Resolution 57/249 of the 20 December, 2002. It represent an Authority instrument, an instrument we must use to call for promotion of peaceful society.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “CULTURE, GLOBAL PUBIC GOODS”. This theme intend to interprets the cultural approach of Government and the general pubic to Clean Environmental habits, Good health system in place, knowledge and capacity building, property, Rights and then peace and security.

Environment deals with problems like climate change and issues if biodiversity, how challenges are properly managed and controlled. There is also emphasis on Good health system especially for the poor, like health insurance system for inclusiveness, Social Economy knowledge, creativity and innovation, among others.

The United Nation General Assembly has chosen this day to promote a greater awareness of the crucial relationship between diverse cultures, peace and development, they are inseparable and this is why this special observance is so important.

At a time where our world is divided by disputes, hatred, conflict and crisis, the mission of promotion of cultural understanding and social inclusion is needed at a time like this.

We will be fooling ourselves not to recognize what a difficult task we have when all the trends in the world seem to be pulling people apart rather than bring them together.

The world needs healing, our diversity and cultural understanding is our goal at bringing back sanity to the globe.

Let’s drive our point home…

Kogi State under His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello as the 4th and 5th Executive Governor, his Administration is a unifying forces among the Ethnic tribes in Kogi State. The policy of EbIgO principle in Administration of the State is a welcomed development.

The acronyms EbIgO connotes: Ebira, Igala and Okun. These are the major tribes in kogi State and the principle behind EBIGO is that everyone is carried slong, No one is left behind in the scheme of things.

These can be seen in terms of appointment and distribution of basics social amenities in the State.

Another evidence is the free cultural practices among the various Ethnic tribes in the State, a case of reference is the de-proscription of cultural practices in Kogi East which were proscribed by our Colonial Masters 55years ago, such cultural practices are Ocho Ugbedu, Ogagayi, Italo and Egbi traditional cultural practices, as the people now practice their culture without fear.

As a way of promoting cultural interaction in the State, the Administration of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello has been sponsoring the participation of Kogi State contingents to both National, International and Local cultural events since 2016 till date.

In 2016, the Kogi State Government Sponsored the participation of Kogi Contingents to the 2016 Edition of the Abuja National carnival during which the State Contingents won twelve laurels including the Best Performing state of the federation and till date, Kogi remains the defending Champion of the 2016 Abuja Carnival.

In 2017, the State Government also sponsored the kogi State contingents to the 11th Edition of PAN African Drama Festival ( FESPAN) in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo from 8th to 15th July, 2017.

They also attended the 2017 African Drama Festival 2nd Edition in Abeokuta Ogun State 20th – 22nd April 2017.

In 2018, the contingent participated and represented Nigeria in the Summer Festival of Tunisia Government from 13th August 2018 in Tunisia.

The Kogi State Government also sponsored the State contingents to the 33rd Edition Of the National Cultural Festival in Jos, Plateau State where Kogi contingent was adjudged the most Enterprising State with laurels.

The Team was also in Ekiti State during the 34th Edition of the National Cultural Festival in Ado Ekiti, where Kogi State Contingent were Adjudged the best costume cultural outing among the participating States at the tournaments.

Due to their outstanding performances in most of their outings, they were invited by the Federal Government of Nigeria to represent the giant of Africa at the Surajkund International Cultural Mela at Haryana Faridabad in India this Current year 2022.

In conclusion, we need to work harder towards building bridges between culture and societies, every single efforts from each of us constitutes one steps further in the promotion of our diversity.

There was a vision when the world day for diversity was Established, we need to re-enforce the vision that promotes tolerance, inter-religious and intercultural dialogue.

We need to understand that promotion of diversity goes beyond being a celebration, it is a call for action and for taking charge of responsibility to foster a sound and empowered international community.

There is no development without peace and there is no peace without security, but let me add that the most important thing is that there is no peace, no development, no security and no human right without embracing the idea of strength and resilience through diversity.

When the Delegates of our dear Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), votes for His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello to fly the Party’s ticket and consequently, serve as Nigeria’s President come 2023, we are 100% sure that the Culture and Tourism sector will witness a robust outing in the years ahead because he has promised such and he is “A Talk and Do Leader”

I remain Hon. Salifu Isah Idachaba, KOGI STATE COMMISSIONER FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM, I wish us all a successful World Tourism Day 2022.