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 cultural diplomacy.
“This is the first time that 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 think this restitution would be a very good opportunity to strengthen institutional ties,” Egloff said.
The Ambassador noted that efforts to return 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 thanked the Swiss government for its efforts, stressing the significance of retrieving the artefacts for Nigeria’s cultural heritage. She said the meeting represented an important step in deepening cultural ties and exploring broader cooperation between the two governments.
The minister highlighted potential areas for collaboration, including animation, design, architecture, hospitality, and tourism.
“It is very important for Nigeria to have these artefacts returned and to engage in a wider conversation with Switzerland about how the restitution will proceed. Discussions with the Swiss Minister of Culture will also help us explore cooperation in other sectors, especially animation, design, architecture, hospitality, and tourism,” Musawa said.
Both parties agreed to continue talks and explore further opportunities for collaboration in the arts and cultural sectors.
