AFIDFF Presents 2022 UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Report

AFIDFF . 03 March 2023

The importance of Cultural and Heritage preservation cannot be overemphasized, especially in a country as rich in culture and history as Nigeria.

It was on this premise that the Director General of the African International Documentary Festival Foundation (AFIDFF), Malame Mangzha, and her team paid a visit to the Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Prof. Abba Isa Tijani, on Thursday, 2nd March 2022.

The visit was to present a complete report of the 2022 UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Initiative and to further discuss action plans for collaborations in cultural and heritage preservation in Nigeria. During the presentation, Mrs Mangzha applauded the D.G NCMM for his contributions and support to the success of the project, highlighting key achievements accomplished at the World Heritage site in Sukur, Madagali, LGA, Adamawa State.

The World Heritage Volunteers programme is an initiative of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Convention that seeks to mobilize and engage young people in the protection, preservation, and promotion of cultural and natural heritage sites around the world. In Nigeria, AFIDFF implemented the project alongside with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments NATCOM UNESCO and other relevant stakeholders.

According to Mrs Mangzha, the two years recovery plan for Sukur Cultural Landscape (Africa’s first Cultural Landscape and Nigeria’s first World Heritage Site) in Madagali, Adamawa State has recorded significant success and has engaged over 200 young volunteers across the globe in the restoration activities and preservation of the site.

In response, Prof. Tijani commended AFIDFF for their commitment to the project and the successes recorded. He further encouraged the team to look at restoring other sites and monuments in the country and pledge his commitment to supporting the team.

“Indeed, the preservation of cultural and heritage sites in Nigeria is crucial to the country's socio-economic development. These sites are not only sources of national pride but also potential revenue streams from tourism. Therefore, it is essential for relevant authorities to collaborate and work towards the protection and preservation of these sites”.

Mrs Mangzha added that the visit of the AFIDFF team to the Director General NCMM is a significant step towards the preservation and promotion of Nigeria's cultural and heritage sites. We hope that the successes recorded at the Sukur World Heritage site will serve as a template for future heritage preservation projects in Nigeria.