The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has announced the launch of the 2022 Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) project to train Nigerian museum professionals in wood conservation, documentation, and storage.

The Yale University Art Gallery has been awarded the AFCP grant to implement the project which would be held at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, and at the National Museum in Lagos.

The U.S. Consul General, Will Stevens, made while speaking during an MoU signing in Lagos on Monday.

Stevens said the United States Government was commitment to partner with Nigeria to preserve its rich history and culture, noting the through the AFCP project worth $114,000, the Yale University Art Gallery will conduct training workshops on wood conservation for National Museum Lagos conservators, helping them preserve Nigerian historic artifacts through advanced storage, documentation, and treatment techniques.

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“As a strong supporter of efforts to preserve Nigerian culture through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, or the AFCP, the U.S Mission in Nigeria has funded projects worth over $1 million USD across Nigeria over the last five years.

“We hope that the partnerships initiated through this project will continue far into the future and serve as a lasting example of the partnership between the United States and Nigeria to protect Nigeria’s cultural heritage,” Stevens said.

The Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof. Abba Issa Tijani, described the impact of AFCP projects across Nigerian museums, saying: “The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has been yielding great results in terms of capacity building, documentation and digitisation of our rich cultural heritage. We look forward to many more productive partnerships with the U.S. government.”

In her remarks, the Director of the Yale University Art Gallery, Stephanie Wiles, expressed appreciation to the U.S. Mission for the generous grant that supports the university’s ongoing collaboration with Nigeria’s National Commission for Museum and Monuments.

“This grant will support workshops in wood conservation and breakthroughs in sustainable conservation practices that are mutually beneficial for the National Commission for Museum and Monuments and the Yale University Art Gallery,” Wiles said.

The Star