NSUK Professor, AU Expert, Leads Global Push for Cultural Restitution at UNESCO Summit

Professor Emmanuel S. Dandaura of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), has positioned himself as a central figure in the global movement for the return of African cultural property, leading a high-profile session at the influential UNESCO Mondiacult 2025 cultural policy conference in Barcelona.

As a Senior Cultural Expert for the African Union (AU), Professor Dandaura led a crucial AU special dialogue on October 1, 2025, titled "Return and Restitution of Cultural Property – Advancing Cultural Rights in Africa." The session attracted over 3,000 delegates, including Ministers of Culture from 165 nations.

Taking the debate beyond mere museum politics, Professor Dandaura—who is also NSUK's Director of the Institute of Strategic Governance and Development Studies (ISDEVCOM)—shifted the focus from a technical issue to a humanitarian one.

He made a powerful declaration that resonated with delegates: “Restitution is not about emptying Western museums. It is about filling African hearts with dignity and memory.”

Dandaura passionately argued that the removal of African artifacts stripped the continent of its heritage, continuity, confidence, and cultural memory. He stressed that restitution must be viewed not as symbolic generosity from European nations but as an essential act of restorative justice.

The renowned cultural negotiator, who serves as Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), affirmed that Africa is approaching the issue strategically, not confrontationally. He cited established frameworks he helped develop, including the AU Model Law on the Protection of Cultural Property and Heritage (2022) and the Common African Position on Restitution of Heritage Resources (2023).

He starkly highlighted the current disparity in access to African heritage, pointing out that while institutions like Cambridge hold over 350,000 African objects, African schoolchildren are often forced to learn about their own history using only photographs.

Professor Dandaura concluded his address by presenting a strategic roadmap for Africa to prepare for both the rights and the responsibilities of successful restitution.

Key Components of the Roadmap:

 * Harmonizing Laws across the continent to strengthen collective negotiation power.

 * Investing in Heritage Infrastructure for the dignified preservation of returned artifacts.

 * Building Structured Partnerships through joint exhibitions and co-curated research to foster collaboration over confrontation.

Professor Dandaura's continental involvement is deep; he chaired the AU Expert Committee that drafted the 2022 AU Model Law and was a leading member of the team behind the 2023 Common African Position.