On Monday, May 21, the world over
celebrated the 2018 World Day for Cultural Diversity. Each year, the global community
celebrates the day.
In 2001, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the
Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Hence, in December 2002, the
United Nations (UN) General Assembly in its unanimous resolution, declared May
21 annually to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and
Development. The Day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our
understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together
better.
Heritage is described as the
inheritance such as buildings, monuments, or any property of an individual or a
society. Whilst cultural heritage, are the inherited qualities, traditions,
ideas, or style of living of an individual or a given society, which have
continued over many years, especially when they are considered to be of
historical importance.
On the other hand, cultural
diversity is defined as the situation whereby the cultural heritage of a
person, group or society varies or consists of different conditions, qualities,
or types. In other words, the diversity of a given culture is the state at
which it comprises or made up of varieties.
Undoubtedly,
cultures such as dancing, masquerading, dressing, sewing, hunting, fishing,
singing, wrestling, moulding of sculptures, painting, and so on, are essential
developmental tools in any country. Culture is strongly connected with
identity; and identity expressed through culture is a necessity for all human
developments. It creates the fundamental building blocks in our respective
personalities and in the ties that link us to various communities as well as
any nation we find ourselves.
Culture plays a unique and crucial role in a development policy
especially issues relating to human rights. A free and staunch cultural
heritage has the tendency of promoting other rights and values to include
freedom of expression, diversity and debate about needs in a society. In the
same vein, culture is a key player in the link between freedom of expression
and democratization.
Culture can also encourage the economic growth of either a nation or an
individual. For instance, a country that’s tremendously gifted with swimming,
which is a globally recognized lucrative sporting activity, can substantially
boost its Gross National Product (GNP) if a meaningful attention is given to
such heritage. Creative areas including music, paintings, drawings and sewing,
can equally serve as revenue sources. In fact, the encounter between culture,
creativity, technology and economy embodies a great potential in creating work
places and increasing exports, and also contributes to social inclusion.
Culture can equally assist in checking socio-political crises or
differences. It ensures unity during crisis, and influences identity, debate
and dialogue; thus, it is needed for nation building, and for peace and
reconciliation. Needless to say; it inspires change, which we all anticipate.
Survey indicates that cultural cooperation is one of the most equality-oriented
forms of co-operations in existence.
The entertainment industry cannot be left out
while discussing the impact of cultural heritage in nation building. Similarly,
the tourism of any country cannot be discussed without mentioning the country’s
cultural diversity. It is obvious that the cultural heritage of any society
contributes over sixty-five percent (65%) of its tourist sector, which remains
one of the paramount Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources of any
developed society.
Surely, tourism is one of the backbones or
engine rooms of any developed country in the world, and this cannot be possible
without the impact of cultural diversity of the country in question. This
implies that Nigeria, which is made of over two hundred and fifty (250) ethnic
groups in which each of the groups is endowed with different cultural
resources, can as well consider harnessing her tourist sector as she is
currently thinking of economic diversification or beyond oil and gas.
As the world celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity, there is a
compelling need for us to acknowledge that our cultural diversity is a
stimulator of creativity, and investing in the creativity can transform
societies. Hence, it is our civic responsibility to develop education and
intercultural skills in our young ones as well as learn to live together in the
diversity of our cultures, languages and religions in order to bring the
desired change.
So, as Nigeria joins the global community in celebrating such remarkable
event, the Nigerian government needn’t be reminded that it’s another golden
opportunity for the President Mohammadu Buhari – led administration to look
inwards toward rejuvenating the country’s cultural heritage in its entirety
with a view to boosting her tourism industry that’s currently seemingly
moribund.
In view of this, there is no gain reiterating
the fact that it is high time the Nigeria’s cultural heritage is reviewed by
the appropriate quarters or authorities, so that, credible ones would be
sustained or harnessed via institution of cultural carnivals by governments at
all levels, promotion of the various existing communal cultural festivals,
establishment of museums, and other related practices.
By so doing, the unacceptable ones would either be addressed or
completely abolished, with a sole motive of boosting the country’s tourism
industry as well as encouraging human empowerment. There cannot be a better
time than now to do the needful. Think about it!
Comrade Fred
Nwaozor
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers
________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador
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