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Steps towards
executing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and
Brazil on cooperation in the area of cultural rights, combating
discrimination, promotion of racial equality and related activities
were taken at a meeting on Thursday, June 3, in Abuja. The former
Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Jibrin Bello
Gada and Minister, Special Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial
Equality (SEPPIR), The Presidency, Brazil, Edson Santos, had on March
15, 2010 signed the document on behalf of both governments.

The MoU arose from
consolidating the gains of two international conferences on improving
relationships between Africans in the continent and those in the
Diaspora held in Brazil in 2008 and 2009. The first conference, themed
‘Teaching and Propagating African Culture to the Diaspora and Teaching
Diaspora History and Culture to Africa’ held in Rio de Janeiro in 2008
while the second, ‘Teaching and Propagating African and Diaspora
History and Culture’ held in Brasilia the following year.

The June 3 meeting
in Abuja was convened at the instance of the Centre for Black African
Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), a parastatal of the Ministry of Tourism,
Culture and National Orientation responsible for the implementation of
the programmes and projects of the agreement. Present at the event were
representatives of culture parastatals, educational and cultural
institutions.

Technical meeting

Director General of
CBAAC, Tunde Babawale, explained in his opening remarks that the
meeting was a technical one to draw a roadmap for the MoU. He noted
that it was “unique because it demonstrates the resolve of Brazil and
Nigeria to put into operation things put on paper.” Both countries, he
reiterated, are prepared to hit the ground running because they want to
ensure the agreement “stands out from others that have been signed and
because the Ministry is determined to make the MOU an exemplary one.”
Babawale added that diplomacy is too serious to be left for diplomats
alone. “Diplomacy is best when it involves people to people contact,”
he reiterated.

The CBAAC DG also
explained what was expected of participants. He noted that since the
MoU gives wide latitude to different agencies to make inputs and also
includes public and private organisations, each is to state its
programmes and the timeframe for its implementation. CBAAC and SEPPIR,
Babawale stated, will meet later to harmonise the programmes before
their execution commences.

Brazil’s Ambassador
to Nigeria, Ana Candida Perez; vice chair, Senate Committee on Tourism,
Culture and National Orientation and his counterpart in the House of
Representatives, Yisa Braimoh and Kingsley Oguakwa; and Director of
Culture, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, George
Ufot, all commented on the significance of the MoU. They also noted the
uniqueness of the meeting which they said was the first time a roadmap
for the implementation of an agreement between Nigeria and another
country would be held.

Linkages, trainings and exchanges

The meeting got to
brass tacks with Executive Secretary of the Pan African Strategic and
Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG), Isola Williams, echoing Babawale on
citizen diplomacy. He noted Nigeria’s historical attachment to Brazil
and the country’s rising profile in international relations. The
retired Army General identified science, economy and politics as areas
of interest to PANAFSTRAG. What pleases Isola most, however, is the
Redemption University to promote African Relations under construction
in Brazil.

Representative of
the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Femi
Olokesusi, disclosed that the agency is interested in transportation
system, the Millennium Development Goals and globalisation.

Former Vice
Chancellor, University of Lagos and Interim Director, Institute for
African Culture and International Understanding (IACIU), Olusegun
Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Oye Ibidapo-Obe stated that
the institute is interested in human security and culture.

The Institute of
African Studies, University of Ibadan, will focus on culture. Its
Director, Dele Layiwola, noted that “ancient societies had cultural
liberation before economic liberation. We will hope that in further
exploring the relationship between Nigeria and Brazil, we will be able
to reach our goals of development. We will be able to turn the
negatives of slavery into positives through culture.”

Akin Alao,
Director, Institute of Cultural Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU), Ile Ife, wants a Brazil-Nigeria Centre for Cultural Studies to
be established in the institution. He gave reasons including an
existing Directorate of Linkages, supportive university administrators,
a course on African and Diaspora histories and a house the university
owns in Bahia, Brazil, to justify why OAU should host the centre.

Representatives of
other institutions including Usmanu Dan Fodiyyo University, Sokoto;
University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Benin, Federal University
of Technology, Minna and the University of Maiduguri, said their
institutions would focus on linkages, trainings, exchanges and
collaborations with universities in Brazil.

Crafts and performance arts

Like the
universities, the National Council for Arts and Culture, (NCAC), will
concentrate on training, research and exchange. The agency’s
representative, Hilary Ogbechie said it has done a lot in the area of
indigenous knowledge and traditional medicine which Brazil can benefit
from. He added that Brazil can also learn from Nigeria’s craft while
Nigeria will learn from Brazil’s fashion industry and salsa among
others. Ambassador Perez however expressed reservation about salsa,
noting that, “It is samba. Salsa is foreign to Brazil.”

The National Troupe
of Nigeria would explore “capacity building in the performative arts,
exchange of playwrights, directors and designers.” Mike Anyanwu of the
Troupe’s corporate affairs department added, “We will seek to deepen
the relationship through periodic residencies and workshops. We will
also embark on joint projects on Nigeria’s music and dances in the
Diaspora.”

Resolutions

Some resolutions
including the establishment of a Brazilian Cultural House in Nigeria in
reciprocity for the one Nigeria has in Bahia, commissioning of a
comparative study of Brazilian architecture in Nigeria and Brazil, and
re-introducing History back into the Nigerian school curriculum as
obtains in Brazil were adopted at the end of the meeting. Other
resolutions adopted at the meeting include, intensifying exchange of
researchers, students, musicians and dancers between the two countries;
giving Nigeria a prominent role in the proposed Redemption University
in Brazil and emphasising indigenous cultures in both countries amongst
others.