The Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Mrs. Matilda Anyamele, has restated government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that will promote cultural sustainability, exhibitions, workshops, and training programs.
Mrs Anyamele who stated this in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State during a strategic meeting with a cross-section of Abia market women, stressed the need for them to play a vital role in preserving and promoting the state’s rich cultural heritage.
Mrs Anyamele while describing women as key drivers of cultural development, noted that women, being custodians of tradition in many homes, have the power to influence future generations by instilling cultural pride in their children.
She further emphasized the importance of integrating cultural values into daily life and business practices, highlighting the need for market women to showcase indigenous crafts, traditional attires, and local delicacies as a way of sustaining Abia’s unique identity.
The Special Assistant also encouraged women to use digital platforms to showcase Abia’s cultural products to a wider audience, in order to boost economic opportunities within the creative sector, adding that technology can serve as a bridge between tradition and modernity, ensuring that Abia’s cultural heritage remains relevant in today’s fast-changing world.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the market women to express their views on the challenges facing cultural preservation in the state. Many of them cited modernization and a growing preference for foreign goods as factors contributing to the gradual decline of indigenous traditions.
The market women also called on government to provide necessary resources and policies that will further encourage the preservation and promotion of Abia’s rich traditions.
They further pledged their support for the initiative and expressed excitement about the prospect of becoming cultural ambassadors in their communities.
