The Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Iryn Omorogiuwa Esq, has harped on the need to recognize the potential of culture as means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development, and global peaceful co-existence.
Omorogiuwa stated this in Benin City on Monday in commemoration of the 2023 International Day of Culture, a day declared by UNESCO to celebrate the diversity and richness of the world’s culture.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the present administration led by Governor Godwin Obaseki has been culture-friendly, hence the creation of a veritable platform for arts, culture and tourism to thrive in the state.
She listed the developmental strides of the administration in the culture sector including the inauguration of culture clubs in secondary schools in the state, the introduction of digital technology to promote and market the tourism sector, the Edo State cuisine book, calendar of festivals, and a compendium of hospitality and tourism destinations across the state.
She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that stakeholders in the sector are regularly engaged in order to attain an enviable position in the world cultural index.
Also speaking, Edo State Director of Arts Council, Mrs. Blessing Iyekekpolor, stressed the need for parents, the public and stakeholders to understand the importance and evolving nature of culture.
In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology, Yuwa Naps, canvassed the use of technology to drive culture into the consciousness of the younger generation.
World Culture Day is observed on 21st of May annually to promote the diversity and uniqueness of culture across the globe. This year’s theme is ‘Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development’.
The event was streamed live via social media and featured a parade of cultural outfits and how naming ceremonies are conducted among Edo people.
