NAN-ELS-3
Festival
By Maureen Okon
Abuja, March 8, 2017 (NAN) Some participants at the 2016/17 NYSC Sports and Cultural Festival Week, have said the festival will unify young men and women through sports and promote the country’s cultural heritage.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, the participants expressed excitement on the ongoing activities at the camp.
Mr Edet Udofia, the Head of Bauchi contingent told NAN that the festival would bridge the gap between all ethnic groups and promote peace and unity among members.
“This is a programme focused on bringing all the youths under the umbrella of the National Youths Service Corps together thereby bridging the gap between all ethnic groups.
“Also after the service year, they will still be unified wherever they go, they will know that Nigeria is one because that is the essence of the festival,’’ he said.
Mr Gideon Yola, representing Ekiti contingent said that coming from the northern part of the country and serving in the West had broadened his understanding on western dances.
“It is a good thing because coming from the northern part of the country and serving in the West, I am able to dance like a westerner.
“It enables exchange and appreciation of cultures among members.
“The NYSC allows us the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of various cultures as is evident in the country’s different colourful attires.
“I hope the country sustains the NYSC programme,” Yola said.
Another corps member, Miss Gladys Odiya, from Cross Rivers, commended NYSC for a great job by bringing different states from divers backgrounds, cultures and languages for display through the platform.
She said that such platform gave opportunity to corps members to excel in the cultural world by gaining employment after service.
“They also have life after service year because I have two corps members in my CDs that did dance drama and when they passed out, gained immediate employment.
“They are professionals dancers today, in fact, when this present set are dancing or performing they come around to boost their morale,” she said.
NAN reports that the sports and cultural festival started 30 years ago, when only dance performance, drama and football were the activities featured.
This year’s edition has 31 states in attendants which started on March 6 , to end on March 10. (NAN)
ETIM/COO/GY
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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Grace Yussuf