The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has called on Nigeria and other West African nations to integrate Cultural Heritage into their Education systems to preserve and promote intangible cultural heritage (ICH). This effort was emphasised at a recent workshop hosted by the UNESCO Regional Office for West Africa, which gathered delegates from five nations, including Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ghana. The event focused on raising awareness of the importance of endorsing and executing the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Protecting Intangible Cultural Heritage.
It aimed to strengthen regional collaborations to preserve local heritage and promote cooperation among West African countries toward sustainable progress. The emphasis was on the traditional values that bind communities together and the necessity of passing them on to future generations. Abdourahamane Diallo, who represents UNESCO in Nigeria, emphasised the importance of regional cooperative initiatives. He pointed out that preserving tradition is not merely the duty of single nations but a shared obligation. He believes that working together will improve the protection of common heritage and strengthen West African countries’ abilities to maintain their local traditions over time.
Advancing ICH has the potential to create economic prospects.
Through collaboration and mutual learning, nations in the region can enhance their traditional connections and advance their Sustainable Development objectives. Preserving intangible local heritage is vital for maintaining community traditions and encouraging creativity. UNESCO states that merging local heritage with academics is a highly effective strategy for protecting these customs. Living heritage includes the practices, expressions, skills, and knowledge transmitted through generations, and it is essential to incorporate these elements into formal and informal education to promote their ongoing vitality.
Moreover, transmitting knowledge through education is crucial for preserving local traditions, modifying them for modern contexts, and maintaining their genuine essence. Incorporating heritage within an Educational System can play a significant role in tackling broader developmental issues. An education reflecting heritage promotes Peace and social unity by celebrating traditional diversity, encouraging inter traditional conversations, and enhancing creative expression. However, it can allow communities to build sustainable livelihoods grounded in their traditional resources. Advancing ICH has the potential to create economic prospects, especially for underrepresented communities, by drawing in tourists, generating employment, and nurturing local sectors connected to arts and crafts.
Nigeria has long been a prominent leader in promoting African heritage.
This marks another advancement in pursuing sustainable development goals and the Africa we want by 2063. The country has long been a leader in the African culture. Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, emphasised the country’s dedication to preserving its traditional legacy while ensuring its impact resonates throughout the continent. She pointed out the nation’s essential role in advancing African Culture and stressed the importance of maintaining its leadership in traditional preservation efforts.
Musawa also recognised that, although the country has progressed in promoting culture, it’s essential to go beyond just conversations and implement practical actions to protect its heritage. She further noted that the government is formulating a national traditional policy to create a supportive environment for community-led heritage initiatives. This policy will be crucial in encouraging local efforts corresponding to tradition preservation and enhancement goals. The events functioned as a venue for nations to exchange their experiences and challenges in protecting ICH. By collaborating, these countries seek to formulate strategies customised to their specific traditional situations while tackling shared difficulties.
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Throughout the event, the principle of South-South cooperation was underscored, with participants stressing the significance of united efforts to ensure that heritage plays a role in the continent’s overall development goals. The urgency to protect local heritage intensifies as the world becomes more interconnected. In a fast-globalising environment, preserving intangible local heritage allows communities to retain their distinct identities and enrich the world’s traditional diversity. However, UNESCO’s call to incorporate cultural heritage into educational systems is an important reminder that conserving cultural heritage involves respecting history while influencing future generations.