The Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) on Friday harped on the need for Nigerians to use their cultural diversities to build a formidable nation.

Mrs. Osaro Osayande told the News Men in Lagos that Nigerians needed to live in love, peace, and harmony to achieve national aspirations.

Osayande spoke to reporters in an interview to commemorate World Culture Day.

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, known popularly as World Culture Day is an UN-approved international day for the promotion of diversity.

The day is set aside to help communities to understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony.

Osayande said that Nigeria’s multi-cultural potential was a huge asset that provided opportunities that Nigerians should take advantage of to achieve national development.

She said that most of the conflicts experienced in the country were due to cultural differences, advising citizens to take out time to understand one another’s culture.

“We all must learn to live peacefully, respect people’s culture, and not make jest of anyone’s culture.

“We are meant to celebrate our cultural diversity as a people because there is a whole lot we can achieve with that when we take our time to understand one another.

“We should learn to interact with one another to make the right decisions and not take decisions based on assumptions.

“Living peacefully in love and harmony will enable us to achieve our goals as a nation.”

She also advised Nigerians to learn at least one local language that is not their mother tongue to hasten cultural integration.

The director-general enjoined parents to educate their children and wards on cultural issues to integrate them into their cultural milieu.

“Everyone must attain a level of the majority to imbibe the mode of dressing of other ethnic groups and also learn to cook and eat other people’s dishes.

“No culture should be seen as inferior or superior to another,” said Osayande.