As the 3-Day Capacity-Building Workshop on the Domestication of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Nigeria ended in Enugu, Enugu State, stakeholders in the culture sector have been urged to ensure that the spirit of such a workshop should not die

The Director, Research and Documentation, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Festus Ihenetu, who made this call at the closing ceremony, stated that such a workshop needs continuity.

Mr. Ihenetu, who also called on Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) to be proactive in the role in the ICH programme, said when all these efforts are made, awareness that is needed to realize the essence of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) will be fostered.

According to him: “NICO has done a lot in this research on Intangible Cultural Heritage. There is need for continuity of this kind of workshop. We have all seen what we can gain from it. We need to create the awareness. We have seen the efforts made by NICO and UNESCO to organize the workshop. I thank God it recorded this wonderful success. At least, we have all brainstormed. The idea is that we must carry on the message to others. That is why I call on NGOs to always give us the situation report of what they have been doing in view of this matter. I must commend the committee that planned the workshop on behalf of NICO. In addition, I commend the Government of Enugu State for hosting us in the coal city. So, as we travel back to our various destinations, God will guide us as we take the knowledge we have here to our various stations.”

The event had all the participants and the two resource persons to the workshop sessions in attendance. The participants were from UNESCO, NICO, Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, NCAC, States Councils for Arts and Culture, the University, the media, etc.; while the two resource persons were Mr. Denja Abdullahi from National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), and Mr. Silverse Lisamula Anami, Member of the Subsidiary Body for Examination of ICH Nomination Files by State Parties from Kenya.


Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs