FG ratifies Tiv Kwagh-Hir cultural heritage on UNESCO list

• Okays N121m furniture for Polytechnic, N302m for Kano dam
• Approves N836m for 38 oxygen plants

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday, ratified the inscription of one of Nigeria’s flagship performances on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who briefed newsmen after the Council’s meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the journey towards actualising the feat started in 2006.

“The other four are the Ifa Divination System, which was listed in 2008. The Oral Heritage of Gelede was also listed in 2008. We have the Ejele Masquerade, which was listed in 2009, and the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival, which was first listed in 2016.

“Kwagh-Hir, which is a Tiv theatrical performance, is one of the flagships of our cultural performances in Nigeria. It actually started as a form of storytelling, then it was dramatised and is supposed to teach morals to our people. I’m proud to say that, today, the theatrical performance has been inscribed on the Intangible List of UNESCO.”

Mohammed said he also presented a memo seeking ratification of the United Nations Tourism Organisation Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics 2020.

Also briefing, Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said Council evaluated a memo presented by his ministry for N121 million to be used for the provision of furniture and equipment at the Federal Polytechnic in Bauchi.

“The idea is to use the opportunity to retool and refurbish some of the dilapidated equipment and furniture at some of the departments at the Federal Polytechnic,” he said, adding that Council approved the memo in favour of Messrs Turaki Heritage Nigeria Limited.

Minister for Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, said his ministry also presented a memo, seeking approval for revised costs and extension of the contract of consultants supervising the Bagwai Watari Dam Irrigation Project in Kano from an initial sum of N98 million to N302,875,379.

Lai Mohammed, who represented the minister, said the initial contract was actually awarded in year 2005, “and just recently, FEC approved an augmentation of the entire contract. That means the mandate of the consultant supervising the construction would also have to be reviewed.”

Mohammed said Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, also presented a memo seeking upward review for the emergency supply, installation and maintenance of 38 oxygen plants all over the country.

He said: “In June, FEC approved the sum of N5.615 billion to four major contractors for the emergency supply, installation and maintenance of 38 oxygen plants in various parts of the country.

“Regrettably, the four companies came back recently with the same complaints ranging from fluctuation in foreign exchange and scarcity of the material all over the world as a result of COVID-19. So, he presented a memo for augmentation in the sum of N836 million, which was also approved.”