The National Troupe of Nigeria says it will produce a short drama to sensitise Nigerians on the need to protect public infrastructure as well as promote national unity.
The Artistic Director of the troupe, Mr Ahmed Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Mohammed said the troupe in the drama would use different ethnic groups and languages to speak to the minds of Nigerians on the need to protect public infrastructure.
“Part of what we are going to do is to come out with a short drama.
” We will be able to put it on Facebook and other social media platforms so that we can really engage Nigerians on that.
” In the drama, we will look at parts of our cultural practices.
“We will look at different ethnic groups and languages that we speak in Nigeria to speak with people in the context that they understand so that we can engage them in that direction,” he said.
Mohammed said that the proposed drama followed the town hall meeting on acts of vandalism against public infrastructure organised by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
“We truly have the intention of using culture to unite people in the country.
” A few days ago, the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture organised a town hall meeting that looked at vandalism.
“Part of what we intend to do as the National troupe is to come up with the skills that will be able to speak to the minds of Nigerians to understand that every structure that government puts in place belongs to everybody.
‘So, if this structure is part of your community, it is part of your responsibility to protect that structure.
“This is because if you allow it to be vandalised, you as community people will lose and people who also visit you to enjoy the services of the infrastructure will also lose”.
Mohammed said.
He called on Nigerians to value their cultural practices as being appreciated by foreigners all over the world.
“Nigeria is a country with over 1,000 ethnic groups with different cultures and food; we have everything here.
“But people seem not to even appreciate what they have. It is only when you go outside the country that you see people displaying Nigerian attire.
” Then, they will say that is my country.
“We are also looking at how to engage Nigerians, sensitise them to be able to understand that what belongs to them is much more important than what they are looking for outside.
“People have to go outside of Nigeria to be able to know that Nigeria is a country that is being appreciated by everybody.
“They appreciate us because of what we wear, the way we dress and the way we speak.
“What we want to do is to sensitise Nigerians in knowing that we have many things of value,” Mohammed said.