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Parents, teachers stress the role of culture in promoting national identity and unity
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Joe Ajayi
Parents and teachers in Abuja have identified culture as not just a tool for national identity but a driving force for national unity and stability.
The Chairperson, Parents Teachers Association (PTA), New Capital School, Dr, Rebecca Godwin-Isaac, said this at the schools cultural day celebration in Abuja on Friday.
Godwin-Isaac, represented by the Vice Chairman , Mr Amenah Ogheneruemu, described culture as a unifying factor that has continued to build bridges across different ethnic groups in the country.
“From the Hausa-Fulani to the Igbo, the Yoruba, the Edo, the Tiv, the Ijaw, the Kanuri, and many more, every culture in Nigeria adds something beautiful to our national identity.
“Like threads in one fabric, we are woven together by purpose. Our colors may differ, but together they form a masterpiece,” she said.
According to her, I am a living example of that unity. I come from Edo State and I am married to a wonderful man from Zuru in Kebbi State.
She explained that her children are the perfect blend of both cultures and a daily reminder of the power of love and respect with culture as a bridge.
Godwin-Isaac called on parents and teachers to remain firm in the face of economic challenges, saying that with unity and hope, victory is assured.
“As we celebrate today, we must also reflect. These are challenging times for many families.
“The economy is tough and life can be uncertain, but we must never lose hope. Nigerians are strongest when we stand together. Unity gives us the courage to overcome hardship.”
She also urged parents to always teach kindness and love to the children, which according to her is greater than tribe.
“To our dear parents, let us teach our children that kindness is greater than tribe and that love is the true language of unity.
“To our wonderful teachers, thank you for shaping these young minds with patience and dedication.
“And to our students, you are the heartbeat of Nigeria. Be proud of where you come from, but open your hearts to others.”
Godwin-Isaac admonished all to use the cultural day to reaffirm their commitment to national unity.
“As we dance, sing, and celebrate today, let us make a promise: to carry this spirit of togetherness beyond this event and into our daily lives.
“The Nigeria we dream of begins right here, in schools like New Capital, where every tribe, tongue, and tradition learns to live as one family.
“May our diversity continue to be our strength, and may our unity forever be our pride.”
Also Speaking, the Head teacher of the school, Ms Nneka Eze, emphasized the imperatives of using culture to inculcate discipline in the children.
Eze affirmed the capability of culture in not just driving unity but respect for elders and others.
“Just as those children are learning or rather showcasing their cultural heritage.
“Discipline, respect is part of culture, when you go out there, in the Western world, discipline is lost.
“But in Nigerian culture, once, we can hold our culture high, discipline becomes the order of the day.
Eze said that culture has the capacity to transform children or anyone into good ambassors of discipline and respect.
“We are bringing back culture into New Capital School Asokoro to make sure that we can hold our culture, be able to be disciplined children.
“When they leave Nigeria, people will say, where are they coming from, Nigeria? So Nigeria is this disciplined , respectful.”
Also Speaking, a pupil of the school, Jadidah Ishaku-Yusuf said that the togetherness of different cultures has brought immense joy to her.
“Today is cultural day and I feel happy to dance and be part of the dance.”
Another student of the school, Ndubuisi Umeh described the cultural day as unifying occasion .
“It is very diverse and shows different cultures that came together to form Nigeria.
“We should embrace our culture and we should not hide them from anyone.”
News
RMAFC Chairman Charges Directors, HODs on Accountability, Productivity
Joel Ajayi
The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, OFR, has charged Directors and Heads of Departments (HODs) to demonstrate commitment, accountability and professionalism in the discharge of their duties to ensure the successful implementation of the Performance Management System (PMS) in the Commission.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Head, Information and Public Relations Unit Maryam Umar Yusuf, mnipr stated that, Chairman gave the charge at the signing of Performance Contracts by Directors and Heads of Departments at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He described the exercise as more than the signing of official documents, noting that it represented a covenant of accountability and a commitment to delivering on the Commission’s strategic objectives through improved productivity and measurable results. He also noted that the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritises institutional efficiency, good governance and improved service delivery.
Dr. Shehu explained that the PMS represents a deliberate shift from routine administrative activities to a result-oriented system that measures institutional and individual performance against clearly defined objectives.
He noted that the Commission had recorded significant progress towards its implementation through the development of a dedicated IT platform, organisation-wide staff training, capacity building for PMS champions, management sensitisation sessions and change management initiatives.
He emphasised that the system was not designed to be punitive but to empower officers, clarify responsibilities, identify capacity gaps and promote fairness in performance assessment. He therefore urged Directors and HODs to ensure that departmental targets and key performance indicators were realistic, measurable, time-bound and aligned with the Commission’s strategic objectives.
He assured staff of management’s commitment to providing the necessary support and enabling environment, while urging all officers to embrace the initiative and make accountability, professionalism and improved service delivery their guiding principles.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Personnel Matters Committee (PMC) and Federal Commissioner representing Cross River State, Ntufam Eyo-Nsa Whitley, described staff as the driving force behind the success of the Commission, urging them to demonstrate discipline, diligence, emotional intelligence and dedication to their responsibilities.
He encouraged officers to take the performance management exercise seriously and give their best towards achieving the Commission’s objectives.
He further urged staff to support one another, embrace the reform process and avoid attitudes that could undermine teamwork and institutional progress. Hon Ntufam called on the PMS champions to demonstrate commitment and provide guidance to their colleagues, stressing that collective responsibility, discipline and effective implementation would ensure the success of the initiative.
In his welcome address, the Secretary to the Commission, Comrade Tosin Adeyanju, described the signing ceremony as a significant milestone in the Commission’s history, marking the transition from intention to action, planning to execution, and traditional performance evaluation to a modern, data-driven performance management system.
He appreciated the Chairman’s leadership and the Commissioners’ support, while acknowledging the critical roles of Directors and HODs in driving the transformation.
He urged management staff to take ownership of their performance agreements and ensure regular engagement, feedback and monitoring to achieve the desired results.
He stressed that the success of the PMS would depend not merely on signing the contracts but on the Commission’s ability to translate agreed targets into improved productivity, efficiency and measurable institutional achievements.
Earlier, the Director overseeing the Administration and Human Resource Department, Alhaji Ahmed Rufai Gidado, explained that the Commission had undertaken a series of activities towards the implementation of the Performance Management System and that the signing of the performance contracts represented a major milestone in the process, marking the transition from preparatory activities to the implementation phase.
In his lecture on The Role of Performance Management in Public Sector Transformation, Mr. Nwachukwu John, Head of Economy Team Performance Management at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), commended RMAFC for the progress recorded in adopting the PMS framework. He noted that the Commission’s commitment demonstrated its readiness to embrace public service reforms and align individual responsibilities with institutional and national development objectives.
He explained that the PMS was designed to connect the responsibilities of individual officers with departmental targets, the Commission’s strategic plan and the Federal Government’s priorities. He urged Directors and HODs to ensure that performance contracts were cascaded to other levels of staff through regular engagement and feedback, emphasising that the system was a productivity tool rather than a promotion exercise.
Similarly, Mr. Ohiro Emmanuel, PMS Consultant with Reliefline Nigeria Limited, delivered a lecture on Overview of the PMS Implementation Journey, during which he described the signing of performance contracts by Directors as a major milestone in the implementation process. He explained that the Commission had conducted staff training, developed a dedicated PMS IT platform and trained performance management champions to facilitate the process.
He stated that the next phase would involve cascading the performance contracts across departments, with Directors engaging their Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors, who would subsequently work with other officers to ensure that individual responsibilities were aligned with departmental targets. He urged the Commission to sustain the momentum and proceed with the cascading process to achieve full implementation of the system.
In his closing remarks, the Director of Reliefline Nigeria Limited, Mr. Francis Ikuyinminu, expressed appreciation to the leadership of RMAFC for their commitment and collaboration towards the successful development of the PMS.
He also acknowledged the support of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and other partners, reaffirming his company’s commitment to providing technical advisory support, capacity building and change management to ensure effective implementation of the system. He urged all stakeholders to sustain their partnership and commitment towards building a legacy of excellence
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