By Joseph Albert (Umunna TV)
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken delivery of twenty-two pieces of repatriated artefacts from the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of African Art, Washington DC.
The artefacts which are 18th century arts, according to sources, were a total of twenty-eight items but the museum decided to return only twenty-two of them and keep six after signing an MOU renewable every 5 years with Nigeria.
The Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Uzoma Ikechi Emenike who had the honour of returning the artefacts to Nigeria, said, the returning of the artefacts showes the height of diplomacy Nigeria has with the United States of America.
She said that the significance of handing over of the repatriated artefacts to Nigeria, is a demonstration of cultural diplomacy on the part of the United States of America.
While congratulating Nigeria on yet another feat of taking back lost artefacts from foreign countries, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, appreciated the Smithsonian Museum for freely and willingly returning the items to the country.
It was gathered that official handover from the Ministry of Foreign affairs to the Ministry of Information and Culture will take place at a later date yet to be arranged.
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