The Nigerian Academy for Cultural Studies, a Federal Government-owned specialised monotechnic, is set to commence academic activities in September 2025 with pilot campuses located in Lagos, Cross River, Ogbomosho, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to a statement on Thursday by the media assistant to the executive secretary of NICO, Caleb Nor, the academy, a brainchild of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, is dedicated to reviving and institutionalising cultural knowledge in Nigeria.
Its establishment aims to instil cultural pride and identity through structured academic and professional training.
According to the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajibola, the institution’s curriculum has been approved by the National Board for Technical Education, and its corporate registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission has been finalised.
“NACUS will award National Diplomas in Cultural Administration Resource Management and Postgraduate Diplomas in Cultural Administration, making graduates eligible for employment, civil service promotions, and professional opportunities both locally and internationally.
The NICO boss emphasised that no nation can achieve sustainable development without a clear understanding of its cultural roots.
He cited Japan, China, and Korea as countries whose socio-economic progress was largely driven by cultural awareness, while attributing Africa’s setbacks partly to lingering cultural imperialism.
“The Academy’s curriculum compares cultures across the globe to show that Nigeria’s heritage is neither inferior nor irrelevant.
“This is a strategic move to challenge and overcome decades of cultural erosion,” he said.
Ajibola noted that the academy’s programmes are open to cultural officers, theatre practitioners, hospitality workers, filmmakers, and even foreign students interested in Nigerian culture.
He mentioned that a key highlight is the opportunity for graduates to serve as cultural officers in Nigerian embassies around the world.
He further stated that NACUS is also introducing innovative courses such as Cultural Technology and Cultural Pharmacology. While the former focuses on harnessing natural resources through indigenous technology for practical use, the latter aims to explore and develop Nigeria’s rich botanical resources into medicinal capsules or tablets.
Meanwhile, the initiative has received widespread support.
In the South-South, the Cross River State Government donated a fully equipped facility to house the academy’s regional campus, reaffirming its commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
Also, in the South-West, the Soun of Ogbomosho, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, has provided a building to host the Ogbomosho campus.
The monarch expressed gratitude for the Federal Government’s gesture and reaffirmed his support for cultural education as a tool for unity and development.
“We are proud to have this institution in Ogbomosho. It will become a centre for cultural learning, unity, and national identity,” the Oba said.
“With NACUS, Nigeria takes a bold step toward cultural revival and sustainable development through education,” it added.
