PRESS RELEASE
The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) is setting up an institute on black culture in Osogbo which will be ready in 18months time.
A team from UNESCO arrived Osogbo on Sunday and held series of meetings with Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is facilitating the establishment of the centre.
The institute, to be known as Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding will have the archives of foremost culture scholar, Ulli Beier as its nucleus when it becomes operational.
The UNESCO team led by Rosa Guerreiro, a Programme Specialist with the world body inspected the proposed site of the centre on Monday where they expressed satisfaction with preparations made so far by the state government.
Prince Oyinlola told the visiting UNESCO team at the site that necessary structures would be built for the take-off of the Institute by the State Government which will be ready in 18months time.
Speaking with newsmen, Guerreiro said UNESCO wanted the institute to be established “as a category two centre” which she said would help UNESCO achieve some of its set objectives.
Also at the site with the governor was the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi who expressed happiness that another big project of international importance had come to Osogbo.
Lasisi Olagunju
Chief Press Secretary to the Osun State Governor
1st October, 2007