Nigerian Newsday

By Tukura Matthew

Plans are underway by the Nasarawa state ministry for culture and tourism in collaboration with the ministry of education in the state to re-introduce crafts in primary school, in addition to the annual cultural festival that will also be introduced in both primary and secondary schools.

State commissioner for culture and tourism, Honourable Emmanuel Bako disclosed this recently in an interview with Nigerian Newsday in his office in Lafia.

On the re-introduction of craft or handwork, Hon. Bako explained that pupils would have go to the bush and source materials to objects of their own initiative explaining further "those are things we want to inculcate in our children as they are growing up, so that they can have means of livelihood arising from such action of catching them young".

He said the festival was intended to remind them of their cultural background.

A recreational centre, according to the commissioner, would be established at Shabu town the gate way to Lafia, the state capital.

Hon. Bako also said discussions were ongoing with some companies for the establishment of an amusement park to be equipped with modern facilities in Lafia for the relaxation of children resident in or outside the state.

Also in the pipeline is the production of a dictionary for consultation on information about the rich cultural and tourism potentials and the history of the people of Nasarawa state.

Mr. Bako called on the people of the state to believe in themselves and foster unity so that the outside world would see them as one indivisible entity.

He called on the people of the state to support Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma-led government, stressing that it is when the government of the day was supported that the desired development could be attained.