The Director-General of the Bureau for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Shadrach Teryila Ukuma, has said culture is not an ornament of society; it is its foundation and preserves our history, strengthens unity, inspires creativity, and builds bridges across generations and communities.
The DG stated this in his address on Thursday as Benue joined the global community to commemorate the World Day for Cultural Diversity and Development, with the theme “Culture Connects Us All.”
He maintained that, “In a rapidly changing world, our cultural heritage remains a compass that guides us towards peace, pride, and progress.
“Here in Benue State, our rich tapestry of arts, dance, music, cuisine, festivals, and traditional values continues to project the beauty and resilience of our people.
“As the Benue State Bureau for Arts, Culture and Tourism, we remain committed to preserving, promoting, and elevating our cultural treasures for future generations.
“Let this celebration awaken in us a renewed responsibility to protect our heritage, empower our creatives, and proudly tell our stories to the world. For when culture thrives, people flourish; and when heritage is preserved, identity endures.”
The event, which took place at the Aminu Isah Kontagora Theatre Arts Complex in Makurdi, began earlier with a carnival procession from High Level Underpass to the complex. It featured activities including traditional dances, a cultural parade, cultural exhibitions, performances by the state cultural troupe, culinary heritage and gastronomy displays, and intercultural dialogue sessions, among others.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Orientation, Mr. Terna Ayu, who was represented at the event by Mr. Amos Awanya, Director of Administration and Supply in the ministry, urged Benue people to take pride in their culture by speaking their local dialects to their children at all times.
Other distinguished panelists at the event, including Mr. Amity Ijuwo, BOT of Okaha Women and Children Development Organization; Mrs. Grace Ibuh of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Makurdi Campus; Beauty Adaaku from the Bureau for International Organization and Development; and Azizat Awopeju, a corps member serving in the state, all affirmed that cultural activities play a crucial role in fostering national unity by bringing people together and celebrating shared values, traditions, and histories.
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, sometimes referred to as World Day for Cultural Diversity, is a United Nations-sanctioned observance day for the promotion of diversity and intercultural dialogue. Established by UNESCO in 2002 in response to the Taliban’s 2001 destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan, it is celebrated on May 21 every year.
