Monarch wants varsity to partner ABU on cultural development

The Emir of Zuru and Chairman, Zuru Emirate Council, Major-General Sani Sami (rtd), has solicited for a collaboration between the Zuru Emirate and the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State, in the area of cultural development.

Speaking when postgraduate students of Development Communication, Department of Theatre and Performing Arts of the institution paid a courtesy visit to his palace, the monarch said that the emirate council was seeking the collaboration with the university, in order to help develop the rich culture of the Zuru culture.

He pointed out that all over the world, the people’s culture has served as the foundation and vehicle for their development, adding that the problem with third world countries like Nigeria was with their inability to use their culture to achieve meaningful development.

According to him, “In Zuru, we cherish and value our culture, and nobody can run away from his culture. So, we must go back to our culture and develop as a basis for development. Our culture is in crisis today because we have abandoned it and embrace the white man’s culture, and are trying to use that as a basis for our development.”

The emir said that the emirate was willing to go into collaboration, not only with the university, but with other organisation in the area of culture and tourism development, which would ultimately lead to developing both the tourism and cultural heritage of the Zuru kingdom.

The ten-day community intervention exercise by the students (as part of their course requirement) culminated in a communal celebration, which brought together all the six districts of the Zuru Emirate. It had the emir, districts heads and other titled holders in the emirate in attendance.

At the occasion, 500 trees of different species were presented to the emirate council by the students, to be planted across the six districts of the emirate as part of their contributions to the beautification of the Zuru community.

The emir who expressed satisfaction with the students and the entire ABU Zaria for choosing his domain for their programme directed all district heads of Zuru to embark on tree planting exercise in their domain as a way of protecting and beautifying the environment.

The emir while receiving the also directed all Government institutions in Zuru local government to key into tree planting exercise.

Head of the school’s delegation and lecturer in the Department of Development Communication, Mr. Steve Daniel, informed the monarch that the choice of Zuru for their community intervention programme was because of the rich culture and tradition of the Zuru Emirate.

He thanked the emir and the entire emirate for the hospitality accorded the students, adding that the university decided to key into the environment friendly programme of the emir by donating the trees to be planted across the six districts of the emirate.
Daniel said after ten days in Zuru, the students have not only fulfilled their course requirements, but have been introduced to the rich culture and tradition of the Zuru people.