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Mrs.Salmwang Christiana: Promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through the Lagos NYSC Cultural Carnival
Quote:
“Nigeria is a blessed country and our rich and diverse culture is our pride ” -Samwang Christiana,( the Lagos NYSC Coordinator)
The sustained impact of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC on domestic tourism is educative, inspiring, and profound. It thus engenders cultural exchange and networking. The establishment of the NYSC scheme in 1973 has had an impact on domestic tourism development. The scheme has triggered not only the greatest catalyst for domestic tourism but also the fulfilment of the General’s pledge “To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done!”
INTRODUCTION:
Since its formation, thousands of young Nigerians have been and are still being mobilised every year to fulfill this unification bid of our great country. It is upon graduation from tertiary institutions that our teeming youths are sent out to various parts and even to some of the most remote parts of the country to serve in the national assignment.
This mass migration has unleashed the classic tourism phenomenon and experience for those who may never have known other parts of the country outside their comfort zones.
This NYSC sojourn to new places, with most postings being to the rural communities, encompasses the fundamentals of adventure and cultural exchange. Through the process, people have eventually settled and even married in those places of their primary NYSC assignments.
This scheme has in no small way contributed to the unification and integration of the country, as well as the economic trickle-down associated with tourism. We are also not quick, therefore, to forget the popular maxim of what the name GOWON stands for: Go on with One Nigeria!
The NYSC Cultural Carnival is therefore, a major highlight of the three-week orientation course, serving as a vibrant celebration of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage under the theme “Unity in Diversity”. It is designed to expose corps members to the diverse cultural attributes within the country, fostering unity, understanding, and appreciation of cultures other than their own.
Climax of Social Activities:
It is often considered the most engaging social event at camp, replacing the traditional campfire night in many states due to security considerations
THE ENCOUNTER
Recently, we had an exciting and insightful encounter with the Coordinator of the Lagos state NYSC on what the Cultural Carnival is all about. She explained that: ” Yes, this cultural carnival is for the 2026 Batch A stream one, and the carnival brings to a close, as an end of all social activities on Camp, and as you have seen for yourself, the Corp members are all adorned in various colourful attires, showcasing our rich cultural heritage, showcasing various cultures about Nigeria.
” Indeed, you can see how happy everyone is. And that basically tells us we can bring these Corps members together in love and unity and this is what NYSC is all about. We are preaching, showcasing, and developing our youths for national integration and unity. It will interest you to know that these Corps members are from various backgrounds, various cultural backgrounds of Nigeria, and they have all come together to showcase various cultures. ” In fact, if you observe, all the platoons showcased various food items from the culture they are representing. And some of these Corps members are not from those areas, but they work tirelessly as a well-organized team, all members in synergy, in love with cooperation to come out with this very beautiful outing today. And what are we all seeing and saying here? We are saying that Nigeria is a blessed country. We are blessed with a very rich social and cultural heritage and we have come here to showcase our culture. Indeed culture is our pride.”
When asked about her dress and that of the Corps Members, she stated that:
” Every cultural carnival, we showcase different attires from different parts of the country. This is to show that we are one Nigeria. We are a blessed people, we love one another. “
On cultural attractions to renew the hope of Nigeria, Salnwang responded thus:
” Yes, it can because, looking at what happened here you can see the Corp members are all working together. You see everyone happy. No one is thinking or remembering that I am from Yorubaland or from the North or the South, etc. Everyone in the orientation camp is one. We work together as a team, the Corp members, they see themselves as platoon members and not measuring themselves with some other yardstick. There is no religion here, we are one. We don’t care what religion you practice, as far as they are concerned and we are concerned, they are Corps members serving Nigeria. And this has brought with it what you have seen today, everyone is happy. Everyone is together. No one is seeing himself differently from others.*
With regards to the NYSC’s support for domestic tourism, the Coordinator had this to say; ” Indeed, all over the camp today, this program is being held in all the states of the federation. This is an avenue for us if we can bring sponsors to showcase a cultural carnival in Nigeria, we can use the opportunity to invite other African communities to see what our youths are doing by displaying the cultural attractions of Nigeria.”
Furthermore, her piece of advice for the youth during the NYSC program was point-blank:
“My piece of advice to the youths in Nigeria is that they should love Nigeria. We don’t have any country apart from Nigeria. Nigeria belongs to all of us. No one built Nigeria for us.
” We have to come together, work hard to ensure we take our country to the level or place we want it to be in the world. They should love each other, they should work for the unity of Nigeria. They should work to uplift our goals not only the NYSC but also the country as well.”
ALL SAID:
The narrative of the NYSC Cultural Carnival anchored on fostering national unity remains one of the most needed and noble initiatives to keep the flag flying higher, from one generation of Nigerians to another.
As the highly committed and passionate Coordinator of the Lagos NYSC, Mrs. Salmwang Christiana has rightly highlighted, to make that work, the youth corps members should eschew all forms of ethnic, religious, and political differences and sentiments. And the key ingredient to spice up the potpourri of the colourful carnival is Love.
So, from all of us here at Travelogue Magazine, we say “Big Kudos” to the NYSC.
Keep going forward with the profound message of One Nigeria. Together, we shall achieve the goal as brought into being by the founding fathers.
