Human Development Initiatives, HDI, a none profit, non-governmental organisation, working with the grassroots and other levels of civil society to promote development ideals and especially the human rights of children, adolescents, youths and women, in partnership with Center for Black & African Arts Civilization, CBAAC, is organising a three-day workshop on Safeguarding Nigeria’s Intangible Cultural Heritage to provide a broad-spectrum of public sensitization and awareness.

The event, which started, yesterday, at Centre for Educational Technology, CET, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos Akoka, will be concluded tomorrow.

According to Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Ag. Executive Director of HDI, “due to globalization, cultural standardization, armed conflict, rural-urban migration, unrestrained mass tourism, mass emigration, degradation of the cultural environment as well as the intrinsic fragility of our intangible cultural heritage, among other things, Nigeria’s rich and vibrant cultural heritage is gradually being threatened.

“Many Nigerian youths these days, seem to appreciate and even practice the Western culture more than their indigenous culture. If this trend is not addressed now, it is most likely that in about a decade or two, appreciation and practice of indigenous Nigerian culture will be eroded among not only the youths but also the adults (since the youths today will be the adults tomorrow).”

He said that “the forum was designed to sensitize all stakeholders in Nigeria on intangible cultural heritage, identify and promote the positive aspects of Nigerian cultures, inculcate positive attitude towards Nigeria’s intangible cultural heritage and ultimately, meet the requirements of the international convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.