The main cultural assets of Nigeria

Nigeria is a country endowed with a lot of cultural heritages sourced from its multicultural communities. Art is an integral part of Nigeria's cultural image; Nigeria's art ecosystem continues to flourish at an impressive pace as Nigerian artists, art lovers, and curators increasingly break creative and commercial moulds to keep art alive in the public's consciousness. The top art galleries in the country not only contribute immensely to the appreciation and preservation of the aesthetic nature of art; they also dedicate their spaces to grooming future talent and enlightening the public, within and beyond the shores of the country.

Nigeria has many cultural assets generally found in large cities and state capitals, such as:

• National Theatre, Lagos: the National Arts Theatre is the primary centre for the performing arts in Nigeria; the monument is located in Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos.
• National Museum: the Nigerian National Museum is located in the city of Lagos. The museum has a notable collection of Nigerian art, including pieces of statuary and carvings and archaeological and ethnographic exhibit.

In addition, there are also Cultural Festivals in Nigeria, such as Argungu Fishing Festival; Ikeji Arondizuogu; Calabar Carnival; Eyo Festival; Igbo New Yam festival; and Osun FestivaI.

The legal framework on cultural heritage conservation

The Nigerian Constitution has the provisions regarding the rights of Nigerian people to develop and promote their cultures, and to apply their cultures as an instrument promoting national identity and unity. The Legislative List of the Nigerian Constitution defines the mandate of the Federal government, as well as of the state and provincial authorities, in the field of culture. According to the List, each Nigerian State government has the exclusive responsibility for the promotion and development of local culture(s).

Acts of the National Assembly of Nigeria define the role and functioning of the specialized bodies dealing with culture. Specific laws passed by the state or provincial authorities represent the statutory basis for the establishment of arts councils and the other local bodies.

The cultural and natural sites on the World Heritage List

Nigeria is blessed with outstanding cultural, natural and significant heritage sites, which are listed among the UNESCO Heritage Sites. These sites have become of great interest to visitors and Nigerians alike. The Nigerian heritage sites are on both the tentative list and on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These sites have natural and extreme beauty with historical significance that will inspire every one.

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Mandates in ICCROM Council since 1958:

ICCROM Staff since 1959: - None -

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Governmental Cultural Institutions

• National Commission for Museums and Monuments. The Federal Government of Nigeria established the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to manage the collection, documentation, conservation and presentation of the National Cultural properties to the public for the purposes of Education, Enlightenment and Entertainment.
  
• Institute of African Studies was created to reawaken interest in traditional folk dancing and poetry.
  
• National Council for Arts and Culture is a Federal Government organ charged with the responsibility of coordination, development and promotion of the Living Arts and Culture of Nigeria at national and international fora.
  
• National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos (NGMA), is a major art gallery in Lagos, the largest city of Nigeria. It is a permanent exhibition of the National Gallery of Art.
  

Museums and Cultural Heritage Institutions

• Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) is a Natural Resource Conservation in Lekki, Lagos State.

Name of more relevant museums

• Nike Art Centre, Lagos, Osun, Kogi, and Abuja
• Red Door Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos
• Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos
• Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos
• Thought Pyramid, Wuse, Abuja
• Hourglass Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos
• Mydrim Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos
• Vintage Art Gallery, Jos, Plateau
• Centre for Contemporary Art, Yaba

* ICCROM reserves the right to moderate the content provided by Member States for country profiles to ensure that they remain within the scope of ICCROM’s mission and pertinent to cultural heritage. However, ICCROM does not take responsibility for the accuracy and validity of the content supplied. The ideas and opinions expressed are those of the Member States.