It was a beautiful celebration time at Hallmark University on Tuesday, 7th June, 2022 as staff and students came out en masse to commemorate this year’s cultural day. The event which was a two-day event spanned from Tuesday, 7th June, 2022 to Wednesday, 8th June, 2022. This annual event is set aside to celebrate the cultural heritage, endowments, and traditions of different nationalities in the country. One of the highlights of this year’s event was the launching of the Hallmark University Drama Troupe (HUDT).
On the first day, the event started with the arrival of guests, staff, students, and members of the Management team. Afterwards, members of the University choir led a beautiful rendition of the National anthem as well as the University anthem. Miss Elizabeth Adediran, the HU student coordinator, gave the opening address. Moving into the various performances by the troupe, the first was the contemporary dance. A group of dancers who were beautifully dressed danced to some contemporary songs. The dance performance was excellent as the viewers were fascinated by their dance moves. After the dance performance, there was a brief talk show session where a question was asked and the opinions of the staff members and students were sampled. This session was indeed interactive as everyone eagerly contributed to the discussion. After the show, the newly launched HU band performed a beautiful musical ensemble. The band consisted of instrumentalists and singers who performed an array of Nigerian hip-hop songs. Hallmark University Drama Troupe, under the watch of the Director, Dr T. Ogunsina, staged its first play as the maiden theatrical presentation of the group as it marks its grand launching.
The second day of the celebration witnessed the attendance of many staff members and students beautifully dressed in colourful cultural attires of different Nigerian ethnic groups and the environment was aesthetically decorated with cultural materials depicting the essence of the day’s celebration. The event was spiced up with an array of traditional meals and incredible performances by various cultural groups.
The Vice-Chancellor, in his address, charged everyone on the need to embrace our indigenous cultures and languages. He encouraged the students to imbibe cultural values. To add more colour to the event, the guest lecturer, Dr. Temitope Omotayo, who is an Associate Professor of Aging, spoke on ‘Modern Music and the Endangered African Culture’.
To wrap up the day’s event, awards were presented to some distinguished individuals who are custodians of the Nigerian culture. Some guests at the event were also specially recognised for their remarkable contributions to the growth and development of the institution. At the end of the programme, the Registrar, Mr. Afolabi Ajayi, gave the closing address. While speaking, the Registrar thanked the lecturers and students of the organising departments for a job well done. He also thanked the Vice-Chancellor and other Principal Officers.
It was indeed an enjoyable and lively time for the students, staff members, families, and friends who attended.