NIGERIA AT UNESCO...
NEWS, EVENTS AND LINKS:
... 2009
Nigeria's Statement at UNESCO General Conference Policy Debate
During 6 to 23 October, 2009, Nigeria's Honourable Minister of State for Education:
Also, on the link below, one can also visit the Minister of State's page for more
UNESCO General Conference to Hold in Paris, Headquarters:
September 2009:
182nd Session of UNESCO's Executive Board to Hold this September
PARIS: France: From Monday 7, September to Wednesday 23 September, 2009,
For more information on the 182nd Session of the Executive Board,
2009 Literacy Day Celebration at UNESCO Headquarters
Amongst the varied events on UNESCO's programme for International
Professor Omolewa Ends Tenure at UNESCO
On Monday 31 August, 2009, Federal Republic of Nigeria's Ambassador
August 2009:
UNESCO and City of Paris Supported Exhibition on the Cosmos ...
This large exhibition of 300 m2, is organized by the Observatoire
July 2009:
Nigeria's Participation during the World Conference on Higher Education
From 5 to 8 July 2009, Nigeria's Honourable Minister of Education: Dr.
On the link below, one can also visit the Minister's page for more
UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education to Hold
Paris, France: From Sunday 5 July to Wednesday 8 July, 2009 UNESCO
Accordingly, one can get more information plus other details of this World
June 2009:
Thirty-Third Session of the World Heritage Committee [WHC] ...
From Monday 22 June to Tuesday 30 June, 2009 Seville, Spain will host the
For more information and details on World Heritage Committee's 33rd Session,
Also, one can also visit the official WHC Seville, Spain 2009 Meeting on
May 2009:
Africa Takes Centre Stage at UNESCO for Five Days ...
From Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May, 2009, Africa Week takes place at UNESCO
Celebrating World Day for Cultural Diversity 2009
Indeed, a major challenge of the Twenty-First Century is to make diversity out
Nigeria overtakes United States in Film and Video Production
According to a recent survey released by the Montreal, Quebec: Canada based
World Press Freedom Day 2009: "Potential of Media in..."
From Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 May, 2009, UNESCO will gather the international
For more information on the 2009 World Press Freddom Day, please, go to the
April 2009:
Session One Hundred and Eighty-One of UNESCO's Executive Board
PARIS: France: From Tuesday 14 April to Thursday 30 April 2009, the
For more information on the 181st Session of the Executive Board,
Federal Republic of Nigeria Signs Institute Agreement With UNESCO
Paris, France: Wednesday 8 April, 2009: Nigeria's Honourable Minister
For more information on this IACIU Agreement signed by Nigeria and
World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development [ESD]
UNESCO's World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development
For more information on this ESD meeting in Bonn, Germany, please, go
March 2009:
Nigeria's Dr. Adegoroye Elected Vice-Chairman of UNESCO
From Thursday 26 to Friday 27 of March 2009, UNESCO's Rooms II and IV
For more information on this UNESCO Underwater Cultural Heritage
IFAP Meeting Set to Hold in Abuja ...
UNESCO's Information for All Programme [IFAP] will, from 17 to 18 March,
To know more about this IFAP meeting in Nigeria, please, go to the following UNESCO
International Women's Day [IWD] 2009 at UNESCO ...
Sunday 8 March, 2009 is International Women's Day [IWD]. At UNESCO Headquarters
For more information and details of International Women's Day 2009 celebrations,
One can also visit the global website of the International Women's Day Movement
February 2009:
Minister of Culture Visits UNESCO Director-General in Paris
Recently, Nigeria's Honourable Minister of Culture, Tourism and National
For more relevant information, please, visit the Honourable Minister's
Upholding International Mother Language Awareness ...
At UNESCO headquarters in Paris and around the world, 21 February,
To read more about International Mother Languages and other relevant
Notably too, you can see more information on the International Mother
Nigerian UNESCO Prize Winner Dies in London
Pictured above [centre], in green dress, with UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
For detailed information on this shocking and sad news, please, kindly
Also, to see more news and information on late Mrs. Alaibe and her FREE
Human Rights Exhibition at UNESCO Headquarters Paris
As part of its contribution to the commemoration of the 60th
January 2009:
Cultural Institutes of UNESCO Open in Abeokuta and Osogbo
On Wednesday 7 January, 2009, UNESCO's Director-General Koichiro
Other news and pictures of the Director-General of UNESCO's
Two Thousand and Nine Goodwill From Our Delegation !!!
For our 2009 Goodwill Message, please, kindly visit the
December 2008:
8th Education For All [EFA] High-Level Group Meeting
In the year 2000, the International Community gave itself 15
November 2008:
International Conference on Education's 48th Session
From Tuesday 25 November to Friday 28 November, 2008 -
Nigeria to Participate in 48th ICE Geneva Session
Nigeria is an active member of the Governing Council of the
Please, go to the link below to view Nigeria's
October 2008:
180th Session of UNESCO's Executive Board
The Executive Board of UNESCO, chaired by Ambassador Olabiyi
September 2008:
Bulgaria Honours Ambassador Michael Abiola Omolewa
The picture above shows Nigeria's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate
Oklahoma University Hall of Fame Inducts Permanent Delegate
Nigeria's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO:
15th Information For All Programme Bureau Meeting
From 11 to 12 September, 2008, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris
2008 UNESCO Literacy Prizes Winners Announced
The award ceremony for the 2008 Literacy Prizes Winners will
August 2008:
Abolition of the Slave Trade Remembrance
As a follow-up to the activities of the Bicentenary of the
July 2008:
World Heritage Committee Meets in Canada
From Wednesday 2 July, 2008 to Thursday 10 July, 2008, the
Education Leader's Forum to Hold in Paris
In UNESCO Headquarters Paris, France, from Monday
June 2008:
First Lady of Nigeria Visits UNESCO
Nigeria's First Lady, Her Excellency: Mrs. Turai Yar'Adua [3rd from right] addressing
From 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Thursday 12 June, 2008, the First
Also, for more information on the First Lady's message to UNESCO,
Intangible Cultural Heritage: Second Session
Nigeria is a Member State of the Convention for the Safeguarding
May 2008:
Permanent Delegate at French Centre Colloqium
From 6 to 8 May, in Lome, Togo, Reseau des Centres de Francais
ADEA Biennale Meetings in Maputo, Mozambique
The Association for the Development of Education in Africa [ADEA]
April 2008:
EFA: Global Action Week 2008
The Education for all [EFA] Global Action Week this year
Nigeria to Host African World Heritage Fund
Speaking at the 1 to 17 April 179th Session of UNESCO's
Nigeria and Executive Board Session 179
At UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, from 9 AM Tuesday
Information for All Programme [IFAP] 5th Session
Ngerian was elected to the IFAP council on Thursday 25
Please, visit the following page for more news:
March 2008:
In 2010, Nigeria will host the 8th E-9 conference on EFA:
High Population Countries to Meet on EFA Review
From Monday 10 March to Wednesday 12 March, Nigeria will join
Also visit UNESCO's EFA official site, at:
L'OREAL-UNESCO Awards At Ten [1998 - 2008]
Nigerian women; including Dr. [Mrs.] Aisha Abubakar Abdulwahab
Accordingly, the UNESCO official site concerning the organization's
February 2008:
UNESCO and the Economic Community of West African States
2008 is International Year of Languages...
The United Nations General Assembly has designated 2008 as
New Year 2008: Goodwill From the Delegation!
January 2008:
A Reflective Look Ahead: Nigeria and General Conference 34:
December, 2007:
World Heritage Committee of UNESCO Elects Nigeria...
Sukur Cultural Landscape in Madagali Local Government Area Adamawa State,
Friday 26 October, 2007 saw Nigeria elected, for a four year term,
On the same cultural topic, Nigeria's proposal for the setting up of
Nigeria Elected into Information for All Programme [IFAP] Council...
Also, for further information concerning UNESCO's Information for
Nigeria Participates in Crucial Round Table...
Also, for more information on the Round Table,
October and November, 2007: General Conference Months:
From Tuesday, 16 October, to Saturday, 3 November 2007,
July 2007: Nigeria Wins UNESCO Confucius Literacy Prize:
16 July, 2007 dawned as the day Nigeria's NGO: Family And also, the following UNESCO official page:
New Zealand 2007: World Heritage Committee in Session:
The interesting World Heritage Committee holds its 31st session And also, the following New Zealand link:
2007 Africa Day Celebration at UNESCO:
Culture and arts are the highlights of this year's Africa Day
_____________
Her Excellency: Mrs. Aishatu Jibril Dukku was at UNESCO Headquarters Paris, France
for the Organization's 35th General Conference - together with other Delegates from
Nigeria and the Team at Nigerian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.
To read the Honourable Minister of State's Nigerian contribution to the Policy Debate
of UNESCO's 35th General Conference, please, go to the following link:
Nigeria's UNESCO GC 35 Statement by Honourable Minister
of State for Education: Mrs. Aishatu Jibril Dukku
relevant information:
Nigeria's Minister of State for Education
The thirty-fifth session of UNESCO's General Conference is to
take place from 6 to 23 October in Paris. Notably, the General
Conference is expected to endorse the nomination of Irina Bokova
[Bulgaria] as the new Director-General of the Organization,
replacing Koichiro Matsuura of Japan whose second term in office
is coming to an end. Chosen by UNESCO’s 58-member Executive
Board, Ms. Bokova is slated to become the first woman to head
UNESCO.
The Conference determines the policies and main lines of work
of UNESCO, particularly through the examination and adoption of
its biennial Programme and Budget. It also adopts international
standard-setting instruments in the fields of competence of the
Organization. The General Conference elects some members of the
Executive Board of the Organization every two years and, every
four years, in keeping with the Executive Board’s proposal,
it names the Director-General of UNESCO.
For more information and details, please visit the following
official Page:
UNESCO General Conference 2009
the Executive Board of UNESCO will hold it's 182nd Session.
Elected to a four-year term in 2005, notably, Nigeria's membership of
the Executive Board expires this 2009.
The Executive Board examines the programme of work for the Organization
and corresponding budget estimates. It ensures the effective and strategic
execution of UNESCO's programmes by the Director-General.
Accordingly, the Executive Board consists of 58 Member States with four-year
terms of office. Each Member State appoints one representative and may also
appoint alternates. The Executive Board is elected by the General Conference;
and is one of the three constitutional organs of UNESCO.
please, go to the following official web site:
Executive Board of UNESCO
Literacy Day on 8 September, is a presentation by former First
Lady of the United States of America: Mrs. Laura Bush in her role
as UNESCO Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Literacy
Decade plus a ceremony to award the 2009 UNESCO Literacy
Prizes annouced earlier.
Notably, the spotlight this year 2009 is on the empowering role
of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship
and development.
For more information on this year's Literacy Day Celebrations at
UNESCO, please, visit the link below:
UNESCO Celebrates Literacy Day 2009
and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO: Professor Michael Abiola Omolewa
ended his almost a decade tenure; having been appointed Ambassador
on 31 January, 2000.
Subsequently, Mrs. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum took over as Ambassador and
Permanent Delegate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to UNESCO.
To know more about Ambassador Katagum, please, kindly go to the
following official link:
Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum
de Paris with the support of the City of Paris, ONERA: the French
Aerospace Lab and the UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector. Notably,
the exhibition will be held at "Palais de la Decouverte" in Paris,
France, from 23 June to 22 November, 2009; and is titled "Cosmos -
a journey to the ends of the Universe."
The main objective is to enable the understanding of the different
objects and different scales of the vast universe: stars, galaxies,
clusters, large estructura.
The educational objective is that each visitor comes out with an
overview on: the intimate nature of a galaxy, aspect of the
universe at large scale, how the cosmos was structured, its
history and its evolution since the big bang, different scenarios
of creation of galaxies, the result of a very active current
research, and developments in the understanding of the universe
over time by researchers.
For more information on this important exhibition on the universe,
please, go to the following official link:
UNESCO Supported Cosmos Exhibition, Paris
Sam Egwu was at UNESCO Headquarters Paris, France for the the 2009
World Conference on Higher Education.
To read the Honourable Minister's Statement as Co-Chair of Plenary
Session III - on "Beyond Talk: What Action for Higher Education and
Research?", please, go to the following link:
Education Minister of Nigeria Speaks at the 2009 World
Conference on Higer Education [WCHE]
information on Nigeria's participation during the 2009 WCHE:
Nigeria's Minister of Edutaion at UNESCO
Headquarters will host the World Conference on Higher Education -
a major and crucial framework of action amongst the Organization's
global mandate.
"The New Dynamics of Higher Education" is the theme of this World
Conference on Higher Education. It will bring together key people
to forge a new commitment in the development of higher education. As
a global platform for innovative thinking, the 2009 World Conference
will take stock of the changes in higher education and research since
the last World Conference in 1998, address the dynamics shaping the
strategic agenda for the development of higher education and identify
concrete actions to meet national development objectives and
individual aspirations.
A series of preparatory regional conferences will address specific
regional concerns, expectations and proposals to bring to the 2009
World Conference. The 2009 World Conference is being organized
pursuant to a Resolution adopted at the 34th Session of UNESCO’s
October 2007 General Conference, requesting the Director-General
"to convene a world conference on higher education in 2009 to take
stock of developments since 1998 and to re-examine the Framework
for Priority Action for Change and Development in Higher Education
adopted in 1998 so it can provide a basis for UNESCO’s activities
to promote access to quality higher education."
The conference will bring together over one thousand participants
representing the key stakeholders in higher education to take
stock of changes in higher education since the 1998 World
Conference on Higher Education.
Conference on Higher Education from the following official UNESCO link:
2009 UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education
33rd Session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.
During the session, the Committee will consider requests for the inscription
of new sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Also, the current state of
efforts for the conservation of sites already inscribed on the List will be
closely looked into.
WHC's Committee is chaired by Her Excellency: Mrs. Maria Jesus San Segundo:
Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Spain to UNESCO.
Accordingly, the World Heritage Committee consists of representatives from
21 of the States Parties to the Convention Concerning the Protection of
the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, elected by the General Assembly
comprising States Parties to the Convention.
Notably, Nigeria is a Member of the World Heritage Committee - together
with the following countries: Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, Canada,
China, Cuba, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco,
Peru, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia and United States of
America.
please, go to the following UNESCO page:
33rd Session of the World Heritage Committee 2009
the following link:
Seville, Spain: World Heritage Committee 33rd Session
headquarters in Paris.
The focus of this year's Africa Week is: "Africa Within its Cultural and Sports
Dynamics." Various relevant events are organized for this event every year.
For more information on the 2009 Africa Week at UNESCO, please, visit the
following official press release web page:
Show-casing Africa Week at UNESCO 2009
of difference, that is to say, to promote unity by cultivating – and not by
reducing – human complexity.
Up until now, the forces of abiding unity have tended to subject our planet to
a simplified order, be it for ideological, imperialistic or economic purposes.
Each of these efforts has missed the target and left bitter traces. It is now
time to build kinship on the basis of plurality, starting with the rich
diversity of humankind.
Culture is essential to this endeavor, as witnessed by the scope of world
heritage sites and artworks and by the originality of creations which keep
uniformity at bay.
Culture is at the heart of the Diversity Festival organized by UNESCO in
many regions of the world, from 11 to 22 May 2009, to celebrate World Day
for Cultural Diversity, for Dialogue and Development.
The Festival practices what it preaches, since it is made up of extremely
diverse events, held in a multiplicity of places and countries from Paris
to Mexico City, to Abuja, to Canberra, to Wahington and to Beijing, etc.
Far from proposing a preconceived vision, it calls on each and everyone to
freely express a living.
For more information on the 2009 World Day for Cultural Diversity, please,
visit the following official web page by UNESCO's Culure Sector:
World Day for Cultural Diversity, 11 to 22 May: 2009
UNESCO Institute for Statistics [UIS], the Nigerian movie industry known
as Nollywood has overtaken the United States of America to become the 2nd
biggest globally in film and video production. India's Bollywood is still in
the first position worldwide. But Nigeria moved up from third position to
second place displacing the United States into third position.
The UIS report also stated that Nigeria's Nollywood is fast catching up to
India's Bollywood - in terms of production volume. For more information on this
crucial UIS survey, please, visit the following official web page:
Nigeria's Nollywood Fast Becoming World's
Biggest in Film and Video Production
community to observe the crucial and abiding nature of World Press Freedom Day
- in terms of upholding it and making it more meaningful and real for all
press plus media people and humankind around the globe.
The strong "potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and
reconciliation" will be the topic of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009 to be
celebrated in Doha, Qatar. As the only UN agency with a mandate to defend
freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO has placed mutual awareness,
understanding and dialogue through media at the core of its mission.
Bsically, UNESCO's Constitution, adopted in November 1945, states that the
Organization will "collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge
and understanding of all peoples, through all means of mass communication"
by promoting "the free flow of ideas by word and image."
During this year's conference and celebrations, UNESCO invites participants
to explore the huge potential of media to serve as a platform for dialogue
and a means for building understanding across borders.
following official web site by UNESCO:
World Press Freedom Day 2009
Executive Board of UNESCO will hold it's 181st Session.
Elected to a four-year term in 2005, notably, Nigeria's membership of
the Executive Board expires this 2009.
The Executive Board examines the programme of work for the Organization
and corresponding budget estimates. It ensures the effective and strategic
execution of UNESCO's programmes by the Director-General.
Accordingly, the Executive Board consists of 58 Member States with four-year
terms of office. Each Member State appoints one representative and may also
appoint alternates. The Executive Board is elected by the General Conference;
and is one of the three constitutional organs of UNESCO.
please, go to the following official web site:
Executive Board of UNESCO
of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation: Senator Bello J. Gada
and Koichiro Matsuura: Director-General of United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation [UNESCO] signed an agreement
formally establishing the earlier approved and inaugurated Institute
for African Culture and International Understanding [IACIU] located
in Abeokuta, Ogun State - as a Category Two Centre within the global
framework of UNESCO's mandate.
UNESCO, please, go to the following official web page:
UNESCO and Nigeria Sign Category 2
IACIU Establishment Agreement
(ESD) will be held in Bonn (Germany) from 31 March to 2 April.
Entitled "Moving into the Second Half of the UN Decade", the event
will bring together some 700 experts and stakeholders.
Organized in partnership with the German Ministry of Education and
Research, the conference marks the midpoint of the UN Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development: 2005-2014, for which UNESCO
is the lead agency. The conference will underline the relevance of
ESD to all of education; promote international exchange on ESD,
especially between North and South; assess results of the Decade's
implementation; and develop strategies for the future. A final
declaration will be adopted reflecting debates and proposing
guidelines for the next five years.
Notably, among the conference's highlights, Queen Rania of Jordan,
who is an international advocate for education, and Graca Machel,
international advocate for women's and children's rights and former
Minister of Education and Culture in Mozambique, will present
keynote speeches.
Indeed, thirty-six ministers from all over the world have already
confirmed their participation in the conference's High-Level
Segment (31 March). The session will provide an opportunity for
ministers and UN representatives to discuss experiences related
to Decade for ESD implementation.
During 1 April, all participants will be invited to sign up for
workshops at ongoing ESD projects in the Bonn region, to promote
international exchange of good practices. An exhibition during the
conference will showcase 25 ESD projects from around the world.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) seeks to integrate the
values and practices of sustainable development into all aspects
of education. The World Conference on ESD is one of UNESCO's four
global Education Conferences organized in 2008-2009 to discuss
education priorities.
to the following official web site for the conference:
Education for Sustainable Development Meeting
Underwater Cultural Heritage States Parties ...
hosted the First Session of the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention
on Underwater Cultural Heritage.
On Thursday 26 March, during Item 1 of the Provisional Agenda: Election
of a chairperson, vice-chairpersons and a Rapporteur of the Meeting of
States Parties, Nigeria's Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry
of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Dr. Adegoke Samuel
Adegoroye was elected Vice-Chairman.
meeting, please, visit the follwing official link:
First Meeting of States Parties to the UNESCO Convention
on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
2009 have an extensive stake-holders meeting of experts in Abuja, Nigeria for the
IFAP national committee recently inaugurated.
Notably, UNESCO partners for this IFAP meeting are: Nigerian Union of Journalists
[NUJ], Federal Ministry of Information and Communications [FMIC], National Archive,
National Library, National Communication Commission [NCC], Nigerian National Commission
[NATCOM] for UNESCO and National Information Technology Development Agency [NITDA].
Communications Sector official page:
IFAP Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria
in Paris, France, during the week, various activities and programmes are scheduled in
celebration of the great, abiding importance of women to the global community and
to humankind's existence.
please, go to the following UNESCO Gender Mainstreaming official page:
UNESCO Celebrates International Women's Day
on the following link:
International Women's Day [IWD] Movement
Orientation visited UNESCO headquarters Paris, France to discuss official
matters of mutual concern between Nigeria and UNESCO in terms of cultural
programmes, projects and policies.
Pictured above is Senator Bello J. Gada [Left], Nigeria's Honourable Minister
of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation with Ambassador Koichiro Matsuura,
UNESCO Director-General [Right].
page on our site at the following link:
Minister of Culture at UNESCO Headquarters
2009 will dawn as International Mother Language Day. But indeed, it goes
beyond merely celebrating because mother languages around the world are
dying. And all hands are on deck to help stop the extinction of various
valuable languages spoken by peoples of the world.
Accordingly, why do languages disappear? Which parts of the world are most
affected? What can be done to save them? The new edition of the UNESCO
Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger of Disappearing aims to answer
these questions. The Atlas will be presented to the press on 19 February
at UNESCO Headquarters.
information, please, visit the following UNESCO link:
2009 International Mother Language Day at UNESCO
Language Day page by the United Nations on following link:
United Nations Presents International Mother Language Day
Professor Wole Soyinka [right], is Mrs. Alaere Timi Alaibe, whose Family
Re-orientation Education and Empowerment [FREE] Community Based
Organization, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, won the 2007 prestigious
UNESCO Confucius Prize.
With a sorrowful heart, therefore, the Nigerian Permanent Delegation to
UNESCO wishes the world to note that the outstanding, loving and
humanitarian Mrs. Alaibe died on 31 January, 2009 in a London hospital.
She was just 45 years old.
Accordingly, the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate plus the whole team
at Nigeria's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO mourn with late Mrs. Alaere
Alaibe's family - her husband and five children plus their extended family
- in this tragic and devastating period of their lives. Her husband, Mr.
Timi Alaibe and her five children are in our caring thoughts and abiding
prayers, especially. We pray that they are deeply consoled in GOD's hands
and loving care.
On Thursday 12 February, 2009, Mrs. Alaere Alaibe was buried in Trofani,
Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
visit the following link:
Alaere Alaibe dies in London, United Kingdom
Organization, please, visit the awards page on our site, at the
following link:
UNESCO Awards Given to Nigerians
anniversary, the Education Sector of UNESCO is highlighting
60 posters on human rights issues to be placed on the railings
outside the Organization's headquarters 2 December, 2008 to
27 February, 2009.
Education goes beyond the classroom. A place where raising
awareness about human rights principles is particularly
important is on the streets of our cities. The exhibition
illustrates key messages relating to the universality and
indivisibility of human rights for all peoples of the world.
For more information on human rights and this exhibition,
please, kindly visit the following link:
Human Rights Exhibition at UNESCO
Matsuura began the new year on a major cultural note by opening
two worthy, closely linked UNESCO Institutes in Abeokuta, Ogun
State, and Osogbo, Osun State - Nigeria respectively.
The one in Abeokuta is called Institute for African Culture and
International Understanding (IACIU) while the one in Osogbo is
named Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding
[CBCIU].
For detailed information on this crucial news, please, kindly
visit the following link:
UNESCO Opens Cultural Institutes in Abeokuta
and Osogbo, Nigeria
activities in Nigeria can also be seen on our site by going to
the following link:
Director-General of UNESCO Visits Nigeria
following link:
2009 GOODWILL FROM THE NIGERIAN PERMANENT
DELEGATION TO UNESCO, PARIS: FRANCE
years to achieve Education For All [EFA] and UN development
goals. The main expected outcomes of the High Level Group
[HLG] meeting in Dakar, Senegal are mainly key policy
recommendations for adoption and implementation by
policy-makers in order to urgently make progress towards
achieving EFA and other related development goals around
the world.
Progress in implementing these recommendations during 2008
will be monitored; and will be reported on at the Eighth
Meeting of the High Level Group [HLG] in Norway from 16
December to 18 December, 2008.
For more information about EFA and its Global Monitoring
Reports, please visit the following link:
EFA Reports and progress so far
in Geneva, Switzerland, the 48th Session of the
International Conference on Education [ICE] will hold.
The Conference is organized by UNESCO's International
Bureau of Education [IBE]. The Bureau started holding
this Conference in 1934.
"Inclusive Education: the Way of the Future" is the
theme for this Conference. It is a major international
forum for dialogue and sharing of ideas for policy
implementation on education around the world.
Also, the Conference will enrich debates about the
reality of inclusive education, explore how
governments can develop and implement broad policies,
draw attention to education systems that offer
opportunities for life-long learning and emphasize
the role of teachers in meeting learners' diverse
expectations and educational needs.
Notably, the Conference provides a forum for
dialogue between Ministers of Education. While
Ministers of Education play the most active role
during the Conference, other partners such as
researchers, educational practitioners,
representatives of intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations also participate
actively. Moreover, despite its intergovernmental
nature, the Conference is open to all those
concerned with all topics to be deliberated on.
To know more, please visit the following link to
the Conference's official web page:
ICE Session 48: Geneva, Switzerland
International Bureau of Education [IBE]: As such; and as
a valuable member of the global community - Nigeria will
take part in the Tuesday 25 November to Friday 28 November,
2008 48th Session of the International Conference on
Education [ICE] which will hold in Geneva, Switzerland.
Nigeria's Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Igwe
Aja-Nwachuku - who was removed as Minister on Wednesday
29 October, 2008, had ealier sent the country's initial
message to the Conference.
message to the Conference:
Message of Nigeria to the 48th International
Conference on Education: Geneva
Babalola Joseph Yai of Benin Republic, will meet from 30
September to 17 October in Paris for its 180th Session.
Features of the 180th Session will include a visit by the
Prime Minister of Mauritius Navinchandra Ramgoolam and
a thematic debate about world languages.
Plenary Sessions of the Board will take place from 6 to 9
October; and will be resumed on 14, 16 and 17 October.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam of Mauritius will address the
Board on 14 October at 3 PM. The thematic debate of 7
October will focus on Protecting Indigenous and
Endangered Languages; and the Role of Languages
in Promoting Education for All - with Sustainable
Development as the basis.
Also, during the 180th Session, notable items on the
agenda include: the Director-General's report on
progress made with respect to education for all [EFA],
UNESCO's strategy for action on climate change, the
implementation of UNESCO's Plan of Action concerning
science, technology in Africa; and preliminary
proposals concerning the Draft Programme and Budget
of the Organization for 2010 and 2011.
During its two yearly Sessions, the Executive Board
brings together 58 of the 193 Member states of
UNESCO to oversee the execution of the programme
adopted by the Organization's General Conference.
The Secretariat, under the leadership of the
Director-General, is responsible for the
implementation of all programmes.
For more information on the Executive Board's One Hundred
and Eightieth Session, please, visit the following link:
UNESCO Executive Board Session 180
plus 2003 to 2005 32nd President of UNESCO General Conference:
Professor Michael Omolewa - being presented the prestigious Bulgarian
National Medal by His Excellency: Mr. Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov:
President of the Republic of Bulgaria - during Ambassador Omolewa's
cultural visit to Bulgaria with other UNESCO colleagues from 16 to 19
September, 2008.
You can also visit a page dedicated to this Bulgarian Award given to
Ambassador Omolewa by going to the following link on our site:
Bulgarian National Medal Award to Professor
Michael Abiola Omolewa
Professor Michael Abiola Omolewa has been inducted into the
prestigious University of Oklahoma International Adult and
Continuing Education Hall of Fame. The Delegation and all
Nigerians send Professor Omolewa our loving goodwill and
appreciation for making the country proud once more.
Notably, this 2008, there will be two International Adult
and Continuing Education Hall of Fame inductions. The first
will be held from 7 to 8 September in the Hall's institutional
home at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma: United
States of America. Strategically building on the great success
of the 2006 Bamberg, Germany induction, the second will be
held in Budapest, Hungary from 3 to 5 December.
For more information about the Permanent Delegate's Hall of
Fame induction, please, visit the following link:
Oklahoma University: Michael Omolewa
in Education Hall of Fame
will host the 15th meeting of the important Information For All
Programme [IFAP] Bureau.
Nigeria, through the Director and Chief Executive Officer of
the National Library, is a member of this IFAP Bureau
normally comprising eight countries nominated by IFAP's
Governing Council.
For more information on IFAP and its Bureau Meeting,
please, visit the following official link:
IFAP Bureau 15th Meeting
take place on 8 September, 2008 in Paris, France during the
occasion of the celebration of International Literacy Day.
The UNESCO International Literacy Prizes are awarded
every year in recognition of creativity, excellence and
innovation in literacy throughout the world. Complying with
the United Nations Literacy Decade [UNLD] thematic calendar,
the theme for this year's Prizes is "Literacy and Health."
And there is strong emphasis on epidemics and communicable
diseases such as HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.
This 2008, literacy projects in Brazil, Ethiopia, South
Africa and Zambia won the four UNESCO International
Literacy Prizes. The laureates were proclaimed by the
Director-General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, on the
recommendation of an international jury. A programme
in Morocco and another from the British Broadcasting
Corporation received Honourable Mention.
Last year, 2007, UNESCO's Confucius Prize for Literacy
was awarded to the Mrs. Alaere Augustina Timi Alaibe led
Family Re-orientation Education and Empowerment [FREE]
Community Based Organization in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
For more information on the UNESCO Literacy
Prizes, please, visit the following link:
2008 UNESCO Literacy Prizes
abolition of the slave trade by the Parliament of the
United Kingdom in 1807, and to commemorate the International
Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
[23 August], the Liverpool Museum made a gift to UNESCO
consisting of a corridor of 36 panels on the touring
exhibition titled: "The Transatlantic Slavery Gallery."
The gallery will be inaugurated on 22 July, 2008 at the
headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. "The Transatlantic
Slavery Gallery" touring exhibition wil last from 22
July, 2008 to 29 August, 2008.
For more information on the slave trade, please
visit the following official link:
UNESCO's Slave Trade Route Project
32nd Session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee holds
in Quebec, Canada. The Committee meets to consider requests
for the inscription of new sites on UNESCO's World Heritage
List and examine the state of conservation of sites already
inscribed on the List. Nigeria is a Member of the World
Heritage Committee.
The World Heritage Committee consists of representatives
from 21 of the States Parties to the Convention Concerning
the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage,
elected by the General Assembly of States Parties to the
Convention.
The current composition of the Committee is: Australia,
Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Egypt,
Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco,
Nigeria, Peru, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia,
United States of America.
For more information on this WHC's Meeting please
visit the following link:
World Heritage Committee Meets in Canada
7 July, 2008 to Tuesday 8 July, 2008, the Education
Leaders Forum sponsored by Microsoft will hold. The
Forum will focus on "Success and Sustainability:
Tertiary Education's Global Challenge." Also, the
leaders will explore issues and propose innovative
solutions for success and sustainability in tertiary
education during the 21st century.
The Education Leaders Forum creates a venue for
government leaders and opinion makers in education
to share experience, thoughts and ideas for
development and progress
To know more about the Forum, Please, visit the
following official link:
Education Leaders Forum in Paris
a UNESCO Meeting on "Adult Literacy, Girl Child Education and NGO Involvement."
Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency: Hajiya Turai Yar'Adua was at
UNESCO Headquaters in Paris France for an official visit.
On arrival at UNESCO, the First Lady was met by Nigeria's
Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Professor
Michael Omolewa. Afterwards, Mrs. Yar'adua was introduced
to the President of the Africa Group at UNESCO, Dr. [Mrs.]
Mary Mbiro Khimulu who serves as Kenyan Ambassador and
Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.
Accordingly, Mrs. Yar'Adua was also received by UNESCO's
Deputy Director-General, Mr. Marcio Barbosa. The First Lady
also addressed women Ambassadors to UNESCO before attending
a Meeting with UNESCO top officials on "Adult Literacy, Girl
Child Education and NGO Involvement."
To read Mrs. Turai Yar'Adua's address to women Ambassadors to
UNESCO, please visit the following web link:
Mrs. Turai Yar'Adua Speaks to Women
Ambassadors in UNESCO
during her visit, please, go to the following web page link:
First Lady of Nigeria addresses UNESCO
of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Notably, the Second Session
of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention
for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will
hold at UNESCO Headquarters Paris, France from 9 A.M. Monday
16 June, 2008 to 6 P.M. Thursday 19 June, 2008.
This Second Session will discuss, among other items, the examination
of the draft operational directives prepared by the Committee at
its request to guide the implementation of the Convention and
determination of the States Parties' contributions to the
Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund, referred to in Article 26.1
of the Convention. In addition, and in conformity with its Rules
of Procedure and with Article 6 of the Convention, the General
Assembly will conduct an election on this occasion for the renewal
of half of the Members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the
Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In preparation of this Second Session of the General Assembly,
an information meeting for the States Parties to the Convention
takes place on Monday 2 June, 2008 at Room XI; from 3.30 P.M.
to 6 P.M.
For more information on General Assembly Session 2 of
the State Parties to the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Convention, please visit the following official
web link:
Intangible Cultural Heritage Session 2
Langue Etrangere d'Afrique [RECFLEA]: Network of Centres for
Teaching French as a Foreign Language in Africa, held its
first Colloquim:
Notably, Nigeria's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to
UNESCO: Professor Michael Omolewa was there to deliver a
paper titled: "Langue Francaise, Diversite Culturelle et
Integration Regionale": The French Language: Cultural
Diversity and Regional Integration.
To read the full French text of Ambassador Omolewa's
lecture at the RECFLEA event, please, visit the
following link:
Professor Omolewa's RECFLEA Presentaion
has come a long way as part of UNESC0's bigger-vision mandate.
ADEA was first established in 1988 under the name: Donors to
African Education (DAE). Its initial mandate was derived from the
recommendations a 1988 World Bank study entitled. "Education in
Sub-Saharan Africa: Policies for Adjustment, Revitalization
and Expansion."
Over the years, Nigeria has contributed immensely towards the
vision and progress of ADEA. Accordingly, Nigeria will not
hesitate to play valuable roles of humane service for the
betterment of education in Africa - during the May 2008
biennale meetings:
The 2008 Biennale of Education will be held in Maputo,
Mozambique from 5 to 9 May, 2008. The venue will be the
Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre. "Beyond
Primary Education: Challenges of and Approaches to Expanding
Learning Opportunities in Africa" is the theme for this
biennale.
ADEA's Biennale Meetings are the high point of the activities
and life of the Association. The main objective of the meetings
is to encourage and sustain frank and open discussions between
African ministers of education, development agencies, and other
education professionals. These discussions are vital for
ADEA as they help to guide the Association's future actions,
dialogue being one of the keys towards sowing the seeds for
better understanding and progress.
In light of the significant progress Africa has made toward
achieving universal primary education, the 2008 Biennale will
focus on post-primary education and training, one of the
greatest challenges facing African education systems today.
The 2008 Biennale will present to the African educational
community the most recent tools, knowledge and practices
that are well able to bring continent-wide progress in
post-primary education.
As with previous Biennale Meetings, the event will be
attended by a large number of stakeholders involved in
the development of education in Africa, African Ministers
of Education and senior officials; senior representatives
from bilateral and multilateral cooperation and development
agencies; regional and sub-regional organizations;
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society
organizations (CSOs); and education researchers plus
professionals.
About 500 people are expected to attend the meeting. This
Biennale is organized in collaboration with the Ministry
of Education and Culture of Mozambique and the Government
of Mozambique, which has graciously offered to host the
Biennale of Education in Maputo.
For more information on ADEA's biennal forum for 2008
please, visit the following official link:
2008 ADEA Biennal in Maputo
[21-27 April] will focus on quality education to end
exclusion. A series of events will be organized to
emphasize the importance of inclusive education as the
only way to achieve Education for All.
Indeed, attaining education for people across the world
is UNESCO's absolute priority. And with utmost commitment,
Nigeria is glad to be part of this priority within her
national framework.
For more information on this year's global action
week, please, visit the following official link:
EFA Global Action Week 2008
Executive Board, Nigeria's Ambassador and Permanent
Delegate: Professor Michael Omolewa said:
"It is within this context of Nigeria-UNESCO Cooperation that my
Delegation joins other members of this Board to mourn the
transition of Ambassador Dragoljub Najman, former Ambassador
of Serbia to UNESCO and the inaugural Chairman of the
UNESCO-Nigeria Committee on Special Plan for Cooperation..."
Also, in the following words, Ambassador Omolewa went on to
say that Nigeria will host African World Heritage Fund's
meeting this April 2008:
"And while still on the issue of the development of Africa, my
Delegation is delighted to confirm that Nigeria will be hosting
the advocacy meeting of the African World Heritage Fund later
this month..."
For the full text of Nigeria's Statement at
Executive Board Session 179, please
visit the following link:
Nigeria's Statement at 179th Executive Board
1 April to 8 PM on Thursday 17 April, the Executive Board
of UNESCO will meet for its 179th Session. Nigeria will
take part in the Session as a Member of the Board.
The Executive Board is elected by the General Conference;
and is one of the three constitutional organs of UNESCO.
It consists of 58 Member States with a four-year term of
office. Each State Member appoints one representative and
may also appoint alternates.
The Executive Board examines the programme of work for the
Organization and corresponding budget estimates. It ensures
the effective and rational execution of the programme by
the Director-General.
For more information, please, visit the following page:
Executive Board of UNESCO
October, 2007 for a four year term that will expire in
October, 2011. Nigeria will therefore take part in the
Fifth Session of IFAP's Council accordingly.
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Council for the
Information for All Programme will be held at UNESCO
Headquarters in Paris, France, from Wednesday 2 to Friday
4 April, 2008 [two and a half days session], in Room II
[Fontenoy Building]. The Council session will be followed
by a half day Bureau meeting in the afternoon of 4 April
2008, in Room IX [Fontenoy Building]. All meetings are
from 9:30 AM to 12.30 PM and from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM in
the afternoon.
The Council is responsible for guiding the planning and
implementation of the Information for All Programme.
In particular, the Council considers proposals on the
development and adaptation of the Programme, recommends
broad lines of action that the Programme could take,
reviews and assesses achievements and defines basic
areas requiring increased international cooperation,
promotes participation of Member States in the
Programme and supports all fund-raising efforts all
Programme implementation.
UNESCO Information for All Programme
Nigeria to Host 2010 Education For All [EFA] Review Conference
Education for All review by 9 High-Population countries.
Education ministers at the Seventh Ministerial Review Meeting
of the Nine High-Population (E-9) Countries (10-12 March, Bali,
Indonesia) have recognized the vital role of teachers in
improving the quality of education as well as expanded access
and equity.
"We recognise the EFA goals will not be achieved globally if
they are not achieved in the E-9 countries, noting that some
countries may face greater challenges than others in meeting
the EFA goals by the 2015 target date."
The E-9 countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India,
Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Pakistan) represent half
the world's population, but only half the teachers are
trained in some countries.
In a 13-point declaration adopted at the conclusion of the
conference, the ministers, who represent 60 per cent of the
world's population, stressed the central role of teachers in
the attaining the Education for All (EFA) goals, and
underlined the importance of South-South co-operation.
For more information, please, visit the following page:
Nigeria to Host 2010 EFA Review Meeting
eight other countries to discuss "Improved Teacher Education"
as the theme of the Education for All [EFA] Seventh Ministerial
Review by the Nine High-Population Countries. The meeting is to
be held in Bali, Indonesia. Indeed, these Nine High Population
Countries are also known as the E-9.
The E-9 countries are: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India,
Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan. They represent half
the world's population, but only half of the teachers are well
trained in some of these countries. E-9 countries account for
over two-thirds of the world's adult illiterates and more than
half of out-of-school children. Improving the number and quality
of teachers is thus seen as basic key to further progress. This
E-9 Initiative was launched in 1993 under the commendable
leadership of UNESCO.
For more information, please, visit the following page:
E-9 Meeting in Bali, Indonesia
Education for All
[pictured below] who has a doctorate in veterinary medicine;
plus joint PhD in public health from Ahmadu Bello University
in Zaria, Nigeria and the University of Plymouth in the
United Kingdom; and is currently working as a veterinary
doctor for the Nigerian Police Force in Abuja, have won the
wonderful L'OREAL-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science.
At UNESCO's Paris, France Headquarters on 6 March, over
30 of the world's leading women scientists will sign the
L'OREAL-UNESCO Charter of Commitment For Women in Science.
The Charter, which affirms the signatories' long-term
dedication to promote women in science, marks the 10th
anniversary of the L'OREAL-UNESCO For Women in Science
partnership.
Following the signature by the scientists, all former
winners of the L'OREAL-UNESCO Awards For Women in
Science, a ceremony will be held in which five
outstanding women researchers from five continents
will receive this year's awards; in recognition of
their work in life sciences.
For more information about Nigerians who won the prestigious
L'OREAL-UNESCO Awards, please, visit the following page:
Nigeria and UNESCO Awards
partnership with L'OREAL on the For Women in Science Awards, is at:
UNESCO, Women and Science
Nigeria to Host UNESCO AND ECOWAS SEMINAR...
[ECOWAS] are organizing a seminar from 26 to 28 February
in Lagos, Nigeria on the subject of "Nation-States and the
Challenges of Regional Integration in West Africa: The
Nigerian Case."
This seminar hosted by Nigeria is the 15th and last national
seminar of UNESCO's project on the challenges of regional
integration in West Africa.
The seminar is organized under the leadership of UNESCO'S
Management of Social Transformations [MOST] Programme,
which is part of the Social and Human Sciences Sector
[SHS] of UNESCO. MOST was launched in March 1994. It
was designed as a research programme to produce reliable
and relevant knowledge for policy makers. The original
mandate established a strong commitment to the promotion
of research that was comparative, international,
interdisciplinary and policy relevant. The programme
was also designed to organize and promote international
research networks, to give attention to capacity
building and to establish a clearing house of
knowledge in the social science field.
For more information, please, visit the following link:
UNESCO - ECOWAS - MOST Seminar Lagos, Nigeria
International Year of Languages. And Accordingly, UNESCO
has been chosen by the global community to lead on this
crucial matter of ensuring that the numerous languages
of the world survive.
For more information, please, visit the following link:
UNESCO: Year of Languages 2008
As another New Year dawns on the wold, it is the hearty wish of
the entire team at Nigeria's Permanent Delegation to the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizaion
[UNESCO] that you have a blessed and fulfilling 2008 in
God's care.
During 2008, the Delegation will continue to serve Nigerians
and our UNESCO partner Member Nations plus our friends
around the globe better and efficiently. Indeed, may you wake
with this, above photo, beautiful African sunrise into a
wonderful 2008!
As the year draws to an end, it is very important that we take a
reflective look at Nigeria's participation in the recently ended
34th General Conference of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO]. Since 14 November,
1960 when Nigeria became the 58th Member State of UNESCO, the
country have come a long way in terms of being a valuable and
worthy partner of the distinguished international organization.
With a unified sense of purpose in diplomatic action, Nigerian
Delegates made valuable inputs towards the commendable outcome
of UNESCO's 34th General Conference Session which took place
from 16 October to 3 November, 2007.
Various Nigerian Delegates contributed greatly to policy
debates, roundtables, meetings and resolutions that will
favourably impact the lives of people within countries
around the world - especially in the following areas:
education and economic development, culture and heritage,
science and technology plus communications and information;
including natural sciences as well as the human and social
sciences.
Consequently, Nigeria won two major elections into the worthful
Information for All Programme [IFAP] Council and the World
Heritage Committee. In addition, Nigeria's proposal for the
setting up of an Institute for African Culture and International
Understanding as a Category Two Centre - at the Olusegun Obasanjo
Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria - within
the framework of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation [UNESCO] was adopted. This was during
the Saturday 27 October 10 AM to 5 PM meeting of the Culture
Commission [CLT] held in Room II at UNESCO Headquarters Paris,
France as part of the General Conference 34th Session.
Notably, to Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Second World Black
and African Festival of Arts, Culture and Civilization - which was
held in Nigeria with the popular name FESTAC 77 [Festival of Arts
and Cuture 1977], the Nigerian Permanent Delegation creatively lead the
Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation [CBAAC] into the
reality of UNESCO endorsing and adopting FESTAC with the laudable
support of Nigerian Governors and Ministers plus distinguished Ford
Foundation. And thus, as a beginning to this partnership the 30th
Anniversary of FESTAC took global stage and real significance at
UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France during the 34th Session of the
General Conference.
Accordingly, the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria
plus the entire staff of the Delegation wish to heartily thank
all other Delegates, friends and government officials; including
Governors and Ministers who came to Paris from Nigeria for their
invaluable support and patriotic participation during the hectic
days of the 34th General Conference.
Also, the Nigerian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO is grateful
to all journalists and press professionals who covered and
reported Nigeria's fruitful participation in the 34th Session
of the General Conference - especially those from Nigerian
media houses - who kept letting our citizens in Nigeria know
what their Delegation was doing to put their welfare within
the current line of beneficial, policy action and long-standing
mandate of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization [UNESCO].
It is with a sense of solid determination, humility and gratitude
that the entire staff of the Nigerian Permanent Delegation to
UNESCO looks beyond the 34th General Conference; knowing that the
lessons embraced; and gains of the bi-annual conference must be
consolidated and proved tangible for the people of Nigeria in terms
of making their lives better in the committee of nations through the
enriching, crucial work and mandate of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO].
For more Information on Nigeria's longstanding relationship
with UNESCO, please, visit the following link:
Nigeria's Official Relationship with UNESCO
Nigeria; inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999
as a member of UNESCO's prestigious and valuable World Heritage
Committee [WHC].
For more information on the WHC election, please, visit the
following link:
World Heritage Committee Election 2007
an Institute for African Culture and International Understanding as
a Category Two Centre - at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library
in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria - within the framework of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
[UNESCO] was adopted. This was during the Saturday 27 October 10 AM
to 5 PM meeting of the Culture Commission [CLT] held in Room II at
UNESCO Headquarters Paris, France as part of the General
Conference 34th Session.
For more Information, please, visit the following link:
Culture Commission Adopts Nigeria's Proposal
Thursday 25 October, 2007, dawned as the day Nigeria, after a hard
fought international, diplomatic battle at UNESCO, was elected
into the all important global Intergovernmental Council that
directs the activities of the Information for All Programme
[IFAP] run through the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization [UNESCO]. The election took place
during the 34th Session of UNESCO General Conference at
UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
Nigeria is also on the Executive Board of UNESCO: The
Executive Board is elected by the General Conference and is
one of the three constitutional organs of UNESCO. It consists
of 58 Member States with a four-year term of office. Each State
Member appoints one representative and may also appoint alternates.
The Executive Board examines the programme of work for the
Organization and corresponding budget estimates. It ensures the
effective and rational execution of the programme by the
Director-General.
Nigeria got 126 votes out of 193 eligible votes; and was elected
alongside Kenya (126 votes also) and Ivory Coast (102 votes).
Mali, with 92 votes lost out in the diplomatic battle. Other
members of the IFAP Council include: Australia, France, Israel
Brazil, Grenada, Venezuela, Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Libya.
For more information on the IFAP elections, please visit the
following link:
UNESCO Election Results into Councils, Committees,
Commissions and Subsidiary Organs
All Programme [IFAP], please visit the following site:
Information for All Programme Official Site
Friday 19 to Saturday 20 October was UNESCO's Ministerial
Round Table on Education and Economic Development. The
Round Table was part of UNESCO General Conference's 34th
Session. Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachuku: Nigeria's Honourable
Minister of Education was there to represent the
country. And through the link below is the Minister's
contribution to the Round Table:
Nigeria's Education Minister Contributes
to UNESCO Round Table Concerning
Education and Economic Development
please visit the following UNESCO page:
UNESCO Ministerial Round Table on
Education and Economic Development
the 34th session of United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference
will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
For more information please visit the following
UNESCO official Page:
34th UNESCO General Conference
Re-orientation Education and Empowerment, [FREE],
was awarded the $20,000 [Twenty Thousand United States
Dollars] worth UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy.
FREE is a Opokuma Kolokuma, Bayelsa State: Nigeria
based Community Based Organization [CBO]. The
brainchild of Mrs. Alaere Augustina Timi Alaibe,
FREE works to address the high level of ignorance
and illiteracy, especially among girls and women,
as well as the collapse of family values in rural
communities of the Niger Delta.
Literacy projects in China, Senegal, Tanzania and
the United States also won prizes in the other four
2007 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes.
For more information please visit the official
Web site of FREE at:
Family Re-orientation Education and Empowerment
2007 UNESCO Literacy Prizes Awarded
in Christchurch, New Zealand from 23 June to 2 July 2007. Nigeria
is participating in the meeting as a State Party to the World
Heritage Convention. 33 years ago, on 23 October, 1971, Nigeria
ratified the Convention; and have since continued to adhere to
it. Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and Sukur Cultural Landscape are
Nigerian inscriptions on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
For more information please visit the following UNESCO page:
World Heritage Committee 31st Session 2007
WHC Session: New Zealand 2007
being staged at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France
from 21 to 25 May. The breathtaking and amazing wealth of
the continent's intangible essence will be on display for
the world to see and appreciate.
For more information please visit the following page: