National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO)

The National Institute for Cultural Orientation, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation was established by Act 93 of 1993.

The Institute has the primary responsibility of harnessing our cultural resources to meet the challenges of social integration, peace, unity and national development. It also serves as vital force for promoting Nigeria’s programme of Cultural Diplomacy and energizing the various cultural establishments in the new direction advocated by Nigeria’s Cultural Policy and the World Decade for Cultural Development (1988-1997) declared by the United Nations.

NICO has a vision to be the apex and leading Cultural Training Institute in Nigeria and Nigeria’s contribution to world progress and civilization through research and documentation and cultural assets and services, both tangible and intangible.

NICO also has the mandate to train cultural officers, motivators and communicators who would be grounded in Nigerian cultural realities, philosophy and practices that are essential for national integration, peace, unity and development in a multi-ethnic nation.

The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) was established by Act 93 of 1993, as a joint initiative of the Nigerian Government and UNESCO during the World Decade for Cultural Development Programme (1988-1997), which emphasized the cultural dimension of development. Under this point arrangement, the Institute was established with the primary responsibility of promoting positive cultural values and harnessing culture for national development. The idea is also enunciated in the Cultural Policy for Nigeria (1988).

According to sub-section 3(1) (a) and (b) and 2 (a-g) of section 3 of the Act establishing NICO, the objectives and functions of the Institute are as follows:

• Serve as a focus for orientation in cultural matters for Nigeria’s policy makers and other government officials.
• Develop cultural materials for promoting the cultural image of Nigeria nationally and internationally and use them for the realization of the nation’s Cultural Diplomacy objectives.
• Train Cultural Development Officers who will integrate Nigeria’s culture into the educational system at all levels to facilitate the practical application of the Nigerian culture in everyday activity.
• Promote and develop relevant curricula aimed at integrating Nigeria’s culture into the educational system at all levels.
• Carry out public enlightenment campaigns of the various facets of Nigeria’s culture to effectively mobilize Nigerians towards a culture-oriented lifestyle; and
• Sponsor and undertake research into all aspects of Nigeria’s arts and culture.

Abuja Head Office
National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO)
No. 23 Kigoma Street,
Wuse Zone 7,
Abuja, FCT,
Nigeria.