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Amb. Nazareth Bako, Mayor of Actor Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abuja Chapter, has called for the revival of the country’s cultural values, saying it has the capacity to enhance national unity.
Bako made the call on Wednesday night in Abuja at the AGN Cultural Day and 24th anniversary celebration.
The mayor said that such would ensure that our cultural values did not dissipate in the face of the onslaught by Western culture.
According to her, our cultural values must be revived in the areas of morals, parenting values and educating the younger generation, among other issues.
“This revival needs to cut across all the fabrics of our social life, dressing, language, cuisine and social interaction, which have been kicked to the basket,” she said.
Speaking at the event, Mr Agility Onwurah, Chief of Staff to the National President, commended the organisers for the event.
He said it had helped people to showcase their culture and also made them to know where they came from.
Onwurah, who is also the President of Association of Entertainment Practitioners (AEP), said Western culture has been dominant, making us to forget our foods, clothes and languages, among others.
“To be sincere, what is happening now is as a result of negligence of our culture as African cultures have morals, dignity and respect.
“But since we started embracing Western culture, we can talk to our parents the way we like, wear whatever we like.
“Parents should go back to the drawing board by asking themselves some questions. I am from Umuoji community in Anambra. If you steal, you will be excommunicated and with that everybody is avoiding to be labeled a criminal.
“But now, if you steal people glorify you because of the Western culture that accepted and embraced it,” he said.
Nollywood veteran actor, Steve Eboh, said Nigerian culture happened to be our identity and life that was fast spreading across the globe.
According to him, Western culture has done so much harm by changing many things in our culture, such as ways of life, food, dressing, among others.
He advised that young people should be properly nurtured by their parents to ensure effective promotion of our culture for better society.
“Teaching morals such as honesty, respect, cleanliness, truthfulness and integration will provide significant changes in our country,” he said.
Newsmen reports that the highlight of the event was cultural displays by various groups.
Nollywood has placed Nigeria on the world map as a frontline entertainment industry.
The AGN is the umbrella body of all Nigerian actors both at home and in the diaspora.
The guild was established with the aim of creating a positive image for Nigeria through the act of screen art, job creation and human capacity development, as well as defending the rights of actors and promoting their welfare.
The AGN Abuja has more than 1,500 active members including women and children.