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The Centre for
Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) and the Institute for
French Research in Africa (IFRA), Institute of African Studies,
University of Ibadan, further advanced their relationship on Tuesday,
February 8 when the director of IFRA visited the parastatal of the
Federal Ministry of Culture.

Gerard Chouin’s
visit to the Broad Street, Lagos headquarters of CBAAC was to
strengthen the existing goodwill between both organisations.

IFRA was
established in 1990 and is financed by the French Ministry for Foreign
Affairs. Aside from its office at the University of Ibadan, the
organisation also operates from the Institute for Development Research,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Mr Chouin apprised
his hosts comprising director general of CBAAC, Tunde Babawale, and
staff of the centre of IFRA’s mandate during his visit.

He disclosed that
IFRA is a not-for-profit institute promoting research in the social
sciences and humanities. It also facilitates exchanges between West
African scholars and their colleagues in France. The archaeologist
assured of IFRA’s continuous collaboration with CBAAC.

Babawale, who spoke
in the same vein, highlighted other areas of cooperation between both
organisations. The two directors agreed on a number of issues during
the visit. They resolved to pay attention to repatriation of artefacts
and the co-sponsoring of post graduate students. They also agreed to
cooperate further on projects including the comparative study of
heritage sites in Nigeria and an ongoing project on patrimony and
identity.