ABSTRACT

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the contribution of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to National Development. Since its inception in 1975, the extent to which the council has achieved its stated objectives has not been determined. A comparison of reports in the arts and cultural sector reveals an increasing need for information by way of statistics, inventories, evaluation among others to assess and monitor the achievement of the planned objectives of the sector. A descriptive survey method was adopted for this research. The population consisted of all NCAC staff at the headquarters in Abuja and ten zonal offices in the country. Cluster sampling technique was used in the selection of the population. The selection of the respondents was based on the status of the respondents; they include directors, zonal head, heads of department and units. A total of 122 respondents were sampled for the study. Two research instruments (questionnaire and interview) were adopted for the study. A five-point version of the likert scale was used for the responses. These are “strongly agree” (SA) “agree” (A), “neutral” (N) “disagree” (DA) and “strongly disagree” (SD).In analyzing the data, a mean score was selected as the dividing point between acceptable and unacceptable responses. The major findings showed that: the right qualities of staff were employed by the council to run the affairs of the organization and the objectives of the cultural policy as stated by the NCAC are adequate and relevant to the development of the country. The council has been harnessing the various resources from different parts of the country as a way of contributing to the development of the national culture, unity, self-reliance and self-sufficiency. The council contributed to the promotion of research canters, craft canters, inventories of technology, cultural directories, festivals, traditional sports and literature. The council encourages viable industries in Nigerian traditional medicine, fashion, food, architecture and entertainment. As the national secretariat of other cultural agencies in the country, the Council has been able to harness the various resources from different parts of the country in contributing to the development of national culture, unity and self – reliance through the establishment and promotion of national cultural research centers, inventories of technology, national festivals and viable industries in Nigeria

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page… …		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	i
Declaration…		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	iii
Certification…		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	iv
Dedication…		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	v
Acknowledgements… …				…	…	…	…	…	…	vi
Abstract… …		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	vii
List of Tables…		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…..	ix
List of Figures… …			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	x
List of Plates…		…	…	… …		…	…	…	…	xi
List of Appendices …			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	xiii
Operational Definition of Terms /Abbreviations …								…	…	xiv
Table of Contents…			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	xvi
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1	Background Information…				…	…	…	…	…	1
1.2	Purpose of the Study… …					…	…	… ..		6
1.3	Statement of the Problem… …					…	…	…	…	7
1.4	Research Questions… …				…	…	…	…	…	8
1.5	Justification of the Study…				…	…	…	…	…	9

1.6	Basic Assumptions…	…	…	…	…	…	…	10
1.7	Scope / Delimitations of the Study…				…	…	…	10
Chapter Two: Literature Review
2.1	Introduction… … … … …				…	…	…	12
2.2	Theoretical Frame Work…		….	…	…..	….	….	13
2.3	Concept of Art and Arts…		…	…	…	…	…	14
2.4	Arts and Culture…	…	…	…	…	…	…	16
2.5	National Cultural Policy…		…	…	…	…	….	17
2.6	National Council for Arts and Culture				…	…	…	22

2.7	The Concept of “Culture”…			…	…	…	…	…..	36
2.8	The Notion of National Development…					…	….	….	53
2.9	National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST)…							…	56
2.10 The Arts and National Development…						…	…	…	63
2.11 Previous Related Studies…				…	… …	…	…	…..	75
2.12 Summary ….		…	…	….	…	…	….	…	78
Chapter Three: Research Design and Methodology
3.1	Introduction…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	82
3.2	Research Design…		…	…	…	…	…	…	82
3.3	Research Population……			…	…	…	…	…	83

3.4	The Sample and Sampling Technique… …								…	…	83
3.5	Instrumentation…			…	…	…		…	…	…	84
3.6	Pilot Study…	…		…	…	…		…	…	…	85
3.7	Validity and Reliability of Instrument…							…	…	…	86
3.8	Administration and Research Instruments…								…	…	87
3.9	Procedure for Data Analysis…					…		…	…	…	87
3.10	Summary…	…		…	…	…		…	…	…	88
Chapter Four: Data Analysis
4.1	Introduction…	…		…	…	…		…	…	…	89
4.2	Findings… … … … … … … … … … … ..										89
Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1 Discussion/Conclusion…				…	…	…	…	…	…	….	95
5.2 Recommendation…			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	… ..	97
5.3 Bibliography …		…	…	…		…	…	…	… … …		99

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Information

The culture trends in Nigeria since the 1970s witnessed an increasing awareness on the part of our political authorities to assert our cultural identity as a means of bringing about positive changes in our national out-look, as well as establishing greater confidence in our national values and aspirations. A close examination of governmental activities by Bello (1990) and Anka (1991) reveals a conscious effort on the part of the then Military Government to use culture as an instrument for promoting national unity and integration.

Apart from embarking on the policy of national reconstruction and rehabilitation, the government went further to provide the much needed institutional and administrative arrangement for the formulation and implementation of our cultural policy. To this end, a Cultural Division which later became the Department of Culture was created in 1972 within the main Ministry while the National Council for Arts and culture (NCAC) was established in 1975 as an autonomous parastatal (Ashiwaju, 1990).

Cultural trends in the 70s will however remain incomplete without mentioning Nigeria’s hosting, of the second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC). Apart from the tremendous cultural awareness, and relative upsurge in cultural expenditure, which the festival generated, Festac ‘77 left behind two important legacies that have contributed in no small measure towards the promotion and development of Nigerian and African culture thus; (1) The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilizations(CBAAC); (2.) The National Theatre Complex which acts as the custodian of all the relics of Festac. The National Council for Arts and culture was established by the NCAC Decree no. 3 of 1975 as the body for national coordination of cultural and artistic promotion and development in Nigeria. The Decree establishes a National Council for Arts and Culture and vests it with the function, among others, of assisting the Federal Government in the planning, coordination and encouragement of art and cultural activities and in the promotion, revival and development of Nigerian culture.

With the National Council for Arts and Culture amendment Decree of

1987, which took effect from the 1^st April 1987, the function of the Council was further enlarged and clearly spelt out as follows:-

to promote and foster the appreciation, revival and development of Nigerian arts and culture;

to plan and coordinate cultural activities in Nigeria and foster the development of literary, visual and performing arts in Nigeria;

to assist the antiquities and commission established under section 3 of the antiquities act in the creation, acquisition and preservation of artistic works, culture, monuments and dispositions;

to organize and promote exhibitions in visual, performing and literary arts as may be determined from time to time by the minister;

to coordinate inter-state cultural exchange activities;

to render assistance to the states in the field of arts and culture; and

to promote the development of music, traditional dance, drama, opera, cinema, films, photography, folklore, oral traditional literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, architecture, town planning and general arts, wood work, embroidery, weaving and similar

crafts. NCAC (Decree No 5).

The Decree No. 5 amends the National Council for Arts and Culture Acts of 1975. Among other things, it was expected to reconstitute the council and provide for the appointment of the Director and Secretary to the council. The council also inherited the assets, and liabilities of the defunct Nigerian Arts Council (section 14) of NCAC decree No3 of 1975) which include programmes like the National festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), National Art Collections, Crafts Shop and Art gallery.

Cultural Policy for Nigeria was launched by the then Military Government in 1988 due to the increasing awareness and realization of the role of culture in National Development. Cultural Policy covers all spectrum of Nigeria’s cultural life including education, mass media, architecture, industrialization, technology among others. The main objectives of this policy are as follows:

to mobilize and motivate the people by disseminating and propagating ideas which promote national pride, solidarity and consciousness;

to evolve from our plurality, a national culture, the stamp of which will be reflected in African and World Affairs;

to promote an educational system that motivates and stimulates creativity and draws largely on our traditional values, namely; respect for humanity and human dignity, respect for legitimate authority and the dignity of labour and respect for positive Nigerian moral and religious values;

to promote creativity in the fields of arts, science and technology, ensure the continuity of traditional skills and sports and their progressive updating to serve modern development needs as our contribution to world growth of culture and ideas;

to establish a code of behaviour compatible with our tradition of humanism and a disciplined moral society.
to sustain environmental and social conditions which enhance the quality of life, produce responsible citizenship and ordered society;

to enhance the management of national resources through the transformation of the indigenous technology, design – resources and skills and;
to enhance national self-reliance and self – sufficiency, and reflect our cultural heritage and national aspiration in the process

of industrialization (FGN, 1988).

The objectives of the National Cultural Policy are founded on the existence of basic qualities in our cultural heritage which, if properly harnessed, are bound to promote nationhood and their impact on world civilization. Since the launching of this Policy in 1988, several workshops were held by NCAC for the purpose of working out comprehensive strategies for the implementation of this policy. The NCAC has been placing great emphasis on the Annual Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) as a platform for promoting inter-state cultural exchange and fostering national unity.

National development depends on the understanding of the culture, the adaptation of its elements for its political, educational and economic development and its strengths for social integration and development. National development results from a combination of the political, economic

and social objectives of a nation whose motivation derives from culture.

National development is concerned with:

a political system that ensures even development, creates national consciousness and pride, and promotes national discipline and accountability.

an economic policy that promotes gainful employment for all and free access to the economic well-being of the nation and establishes measures to regulate the economy and promote the image of the nation.

social systems that improve the quality of life, establish firmly the principles of human right, justice, security, law, and order and equal opportunity for all; and

an educational system that promotes our traditional value systems and is designed to enhance national capabilities in self-reliance and self-

sufficiency (CPN, 1988).

1.2 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the contributions of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to National Development. This has become necessary because since its inception in 1975, the extent to which the council has achieved its stated objectives has not been determined. The decree establishing the NCAC has vested it with the function of assisting the Federal Government in the planning, among other things,

coordinating and encouragement of arts and cultural activities in the country. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the contribution of NCAC to national development.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

Studies in the arts in Nigeria have shown that both have contributed immensely to the socio-political, economic, religious, and educational advancement to our communities and the nation at large. According to Arinze (2001), arts and culture are rooted in our history, integrated into our living patterns and inseparable from our spiritual philosophies. He stressed that in recognition of their economic and cultural roles in National development, the United Nations Education, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1982 passed a resolution urging member-nations to allocate adequate resources within their cultural programme and National Development plans.

Babalola (1983) further emphasize the role art can play and its contributions to the development of a nation like Nigeria. He believes in the contribution of art in the education of children in the home, community, commerce, industry and the vitality art can bring to different areas of National Development.

In-spite of these contributions and roles of art and culture to the individual and the nation at large, its role and contributions has not been adequately understood or appreciated. Udoh (2003) notes that the concept of art and culture has not been fully grasped by the Nigerian populace. He noted that art and culture are often regarded as inferior and do not deserve much attention. Also, Osofisan (1992) notes that cultural matters are still considered by government as mere entertainment.

Based on the preceding discussion, it is evident that within the limited researches on art and culture and the NCAC in particular, there are various views on the problems of the cultural sector in the country. The study therefore evaluated the NCAC’s contribution as a coordinating body for cultural development in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions were raised:

Are the set objectives of the NCAC adequate and relevant to National Development?

Does the NCAC contribute to the development of the unity of the country and prepare the nation for self-reliance and self-sufficiency?

Does the NCAC activity promote the activities of cultural research centers, craft centers, and the inventories of technology, cultural directories, festivals, traditional sports and literature?

Does NCAC encourage viable industries such as food, fashion, traditional medicine, traditional architecture and entertainment industries?

1.5 Justification of the Study

A comparison of reports made by Olaosebikan (1982), in the arts and cultural sector, reveals an increasing need for information by way of statistics, inventories, evaluation, among others in order to assess and monitor the achievements of the planned objectives of the sector. According to Udoh (2003), there is currently virtually, no information by way of comprehensive inventories of existing cultural assets in the country. Similarly, Ajadi (2003) notes that no comprehensive national bibliography of source materials and literary art works or statistical computation of the nations annual turn-over of relevant sub-sectors at the three levels of government (Federal State and Local government).From the preceding discussion there is the need for a research documentation of the activities of NCAC in the national development of the country

Since the inception of the National Council for Arts and Culture in 1975, various activities and programmes were executed by the council. The researcher is not aware of research activities which focus on how the arts contribute to our national development, be it in social cultural, industrial, religious, political or educational sphere. Therefore, there is the need to study the relevance of the stated objectives of the council and the role of the arts in national development. From the foregoing, it is the view of the researcher that there is the need to investigate and document the contribution of the arts to National Development using National Council for Arts and Culture as a case study.

1.6 Basic Assumptions

The study was based on the following assumptions:

The negative attitude of the individual and society as well as the government has an adverse effect on the outcome of the contribution of arts to national development.

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has a role in promoting arts contribution in national development

There is an absence of an in-depth documentation of arts contribution in national development.

1.7 Scope and Delimitation

The purpose of this study was to assess and document the contribution of the arts in national development a case study of National Council for Arts and Culture. Therefore the study is limited to the Federal National Council for Arts and Culture with Headquarters at Abuja and the ten (10) Zonal Offices in the country. It will use only the relevant departments.

The study was based on the available official information, files, documents and data that the researcher will lay her hand on. It will also be limited to the method used and this includes the use of questionnaire and interviews guides in the collection of data.

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EVALUATION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Author: SPROJECT NG

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