Department

International Cultural Relations (ICR)

Department - Technical Services

International Cultural Relations (ICR)

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Zainab Ali Biu

Head of Department

MANDATE

The International Cultural Relations department deals with Nigeria’s relationship with other countries, international Agencies as well as multilateral Organization in the area of Culture. It operates through three divisions namely; Bilateral, Multilateral and UNESCO.

BILATERAL DIVISION

Bilateral Cultural Relations Division is one of the Divisions of the International Cultural Relations Department in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. This division handles the drafting, negotiation and signing of Bilateral Cultural Agreements and Protocols of implementation between Nigeria and friendly Countries.  It manages over seventy cultural co-operations between Nigeria and some friendly countries. The cultural co-operations are based on three key principles which are as follows:  Mutual benefits, Reciprocity, and Respect to sovereignty. The cultural co-operations are either Pure Basic Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which usually deal with specific aspect of culture depending on what the parties desire to form basis of the cultural relations. The Division is saddled with the following responsibilities:

  • Relates on cultural matters with over seventy friendly countries with which Nigeria has Cultural Agreement with;
  • Handles the drafting, negotiation and signing of Bilateral Cultural Agreements and Protocols of implementation between Nigeria and friendly Countries. There are over 70 of these Agreements and Protocols. Agreement is now replaced with Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), as such, the country has Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Countries in place of Agreements;
  • The division also coordinates implementation of the MOU, agreements and protocols of implementation to foster relationship and promote international understanding, mutual cooperation and friendship;
  • Participates in the Inter-Ministerial Meeting for the preparation of Joint Commissions or Bi-National Commissions;
  • Participates in the Joint and Bi-National Commission meetings as well as Special Implementation Committee meetings coordinates by Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of these   legal documents;
  • Embellishment of Nigerian Missions abroad;
  • Establishment and running of cultural centres abroad, where Nigeria’s culture will be showcased to further deepen economic benefit and good national image;
  • Coordinates and attends ICESCO programs and activities;
  • The Department finalized MoU between Nigeria and India on Cultural Cooperation and Exchanges;
  • The Department to set-up friendly Committee to promote the relationship between Nigeria and Spain;
  • Had a working launch with H. E. Gloria Tiwet Malaysian High Commissioner to Nigeria;
  • Participation at the Chinese New Year tagged, “the Year of the Rabbit”;
  • Participation at the International Women’s Day at the Indian Embassy;
  • Participation at the International Women’s Day at the Indian Embassy, and;
  • Participation at the International Women’s Day at the Chinese Cultural Centre.

The division is divided into three branches each with a group of countries to be coordinated, the branches are

  1. Africa and Middle East.
  2. Europe and Americas.
  3. Asia and Oceania.

MULTILATERAL DIVISION

This division deals with Nigeria’s Cultural relations with multilateral organizations such as the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Africa, Caribbean and Pacific/ European Union ACP/EU, New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), Commonwealth, Ford Foundation, African Union Operation Support System, (AU-OSS), African Union–Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC), The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),etc. The division also coordinates multilateral developmental projects and programmes such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

UNESCO DIVISION

        UNESCO Division was established to implement the projects and programmes of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Nigeria. The Division performs these functions in liaison with the UNESCO Office in Nigeria and the National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM). The Division liaises with the relevant Parastatals of the Ministry such as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, National Council for Arts and Culture and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization in the execution of the projects.

        Together with these Parastatals and other stakeholders in the Culture sector (private sector), the Division creates awareness on global cultural programmes that affect Nigeria, such as enlistment of heritage sites and monuments in the World Heritage List, the safeguarding of our tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and prevention of our heritage from extinction, etc.

        The division is divided into three branches, each dealing with specific Conventions. It should be noted that Nigeria has signed and ratified 7 UNESCO and UNIDROIT Conventions and these are:

  1. Second protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the protection of Cultural property in the event of armed conflicts
  2. Convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of Cultural Property (1970)
  3. Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)
  4. Convention on the protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001)
  5. Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)
  6. Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005)
  7. Second protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the protection of Cultural property in the event of armed conflict.