Nigeria Begins Talks With Switzerland On Artefact Repatriation And Cultural Collaboration

The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, led by Hannatu Musawa, has begun discussions with the Swiss government on cultural cooperation and the repatriation of Nigerian artefacts currently held in Swiss museums, including monoliths and bronze works.

During a courtesy visit to Musawa in Abuja on Friday, Swiss Ambassador Patrick Egloff expressed his country’s readiness to pursue bilateral agreements and strengthen cultural diplomacy.

“This is the first time a Swiss ambassador is meeting with a Nigerian Minister of Art and Culture. There is a lot happening, and we would be very interested in building more institutional cooperation with the ministry. We believe restitution would be a strong foundation for this,” Egloff said.

The Ambassador noted that the process of returning the artefacts began three years ago, with plans to hand over the bronze pieces through the Nigerian Embassy by the end of the year.

Musawa expressed gratitude to the Swiss government for its efforts, stressing the importance of reclaiming the artefacts for Nigeria’s cultural heritage. She described the meeting as a key step in strengthening cultural ties and exploring new areas of collaboration between the two nations.

Highlighting potential areas for cooperation, Musawa mentioned animation, design, architecture, hospitality, and tourism.

“It is very important for us to have these artefacts back and to hold a broader discussion with Switzerland on how restitution will be managed. Our conversation with the Swiss Minister of Culture will also focus on opportunities for collaboration in other sectors such as animation, design, architecture, hospitality, and tourism,” she said.

Both sides agreed to continue discussions and explore further partnerships in the arts and cultural sectors.