Protocols

I am delighted to be here this evening as we are all gathered to celebrate Africa 's greatest cultural events in recent memory, FESTAC '77. The significance of FESTAC in the cultural history of Black and African people cannot be overemphasized. FESTAC was a celebration of the culture, history and heritage of Black and African people worldwide and I am extremely happy that 30 years after, the celebration is still on.

Director-General, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great joy that here today in UNESCO, we can see abundant evidence of the contributions of Black and African people to world civilization in the form of arts works, artifacts of great value, models of architectural technology and academic publications of high quality.

On behalf of the people of Nigeria and Osun State in particular, I thank the Director-General for graciously supporting the hosting of the 30 th Anniversary of FESTAC '77. I wish to sincerely thank UNESCO for favourably considering Nigeria 's bid for the establishment of a category II Institute of Black Culture and International Understanding in Nigeria . As home to one of the two World Heritage Sites approved for Nigeria by UNESCO, Osogbo, our state capital, is more than ready to be associated with the Institute. I also thank the Chairperson of the Africa Group for ably mobilizing African countries behind this initiative

I commend the Centre for Black and African arts and Civilization (CBAAC) for carefully preserving these materials kept in its custody. The people of Africa and their kith and kin in the Diaspora must use the opportunity of this exhibition to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between them and build bridges of peace and mutual understanding.

I thank you for listening