altThe Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has informed delegates/participants to the on-going Colloquium/Exhibition on African Rock Art and the Pan-African Renaissance that work had reached an advanced stage for the Launch of a National Cultural Heritage Fund in Nigeria by July this year although by a different name.

Duke made the disclosure in response to one of the recommendations of the Niamey Communiqué as presented in a review by Mr. Terry Little of Trust for African Rock Art (TARA) during the Technical Session, which was chaired by the Honourable Minister.

He stated that he would explore the possibility of Centre for Black and African Arts & Civilisation (CBAAC) and National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) working with TARA to set up an office in Nigeria in furtherance of research and promotion of Rock Art in Nigeria, also promising to recommend at the appropriate forum for the dedication of half a decade to Rock Art activities in view of the numerous advantages of Rock Art in preserving and propagating Africa’s cultural heritage.

Participants at the two-day Colloquium/Exhibition holding at the African Union Secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, are expected to deliberate extensively on a wide range of issues bordering on the Rock Art in Africa and make recommendations on its conservation, management, awareness raising and projection of its relevance for economic sustainability.   

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