Emmanuel OchayiThe U.S. Mission and Yale University have initiated collaboration with Nigerian institutions to strengthen efforts on preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.
The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) project, titled “Sustaining a Partnership in Conservation and Preservation,” has taken an approach to safeguarding Nigeria’s rich heritage.
The project involved Yale University Gallery of Art conducting two conservation training workshops in Lagos, Nigeria, aimed at enhancing the preservation of historic Nigerian artifacts through advanced storage, documentation, and treatment techniques. These workshops brought together conservators from the National Museum Lagos and staff from Yaba College of Technology Lagos, fostering valuable knowledge exchange.
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The U.S. Consul General Will Stevens emphasized the commitment of the United States to protect and preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage: “I am looking forward to many more opportunities like this to strengthen our combined efforts in the future.”
Julie McKay, U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, underscored the project’s role in bolstering the cultural preservation partnership between the U.S. and Nigeria, promoting capacity building and upholding a Cultural Property Agreement signed in 2022, which prohibits the import of Nigeria’s antiquities into the United States.
Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Professor Abba Issa Tijani, emphasized the significance of AFCP projects within Nigerian museums, facilitating a valuable exchange between Nigerian and American wood conservators.
James Green, Curator of African Art at the Yale University Gallery of Art, noted that the project has led to breakthroughs in sustainable conservation practices, made possible with the generous support of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.
This collaborative effort, part of a decade-long partnership, has seen the United States invest over one million dollars in enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to manage its cultural heritage, marking a milestone in the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural legacy.
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