UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL HERITAGE AND NEED FOR PRESERVATION: THE ROLE OF GENERAL STUDIES PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA

In Nigeria, many archaeological sites, museums, indigenous technology and moral values, etc. are yearning for preservation. The infiltration of western culture and modernity in Nigerian cultures has reduced the importance of our cultural heritage. Humanities Unit in the School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka was used to highlight the importance of cultural heritage and its preservation. This is because the unit has a culture-based course in its curriculum. A qualitative research method was adopted for the research. Students from different faculties were interviewed during seminar classes. This was analysed using content analysis. Secondary data was obtained from written materials on cultural heritage and education. The findings show that Humanities Unit as one of the units in GSP exposes students of different ethnic groups and background cultures other than their own through the understanding of cultural heritage and the need for preservation.