The Director-General, African International Documentary and Festival Foundation (AFIDFF), Malame Mangzha, says the foundation remains committed to supporting Kano State in attaining full UNESCO World Heritage status for its historic sites.
Mangzha made this known on Tuesday in Kano during the orientation and opening ceremony of the 2025 UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Programme, held at Gidan Dan Hausa.
The event was organised by AFIDFF in collaboration with the Kano State Government and other heritage stakeholders.
She said Kano was chosen to host the 2025 edition of the global volunteer initiative in recognition of its centuries-old historical significance, deep-rooted traditions, and remarkable cultural heritage.
“Kano has been on UNESCO’s tentative list for more than 20 years. We believe the time has come to project these sites and work with the state government to achieve full World Heritage recognition,” she said.
Mangzha, who is also the National Coordinator of the UNESCO WHV Initiative, said the volunteers would engage in practical conservation and documentation activities across eight key heritage locations in the state.
The sites include the Ancient Kano City Walls, Gidan Sarki Palace, Kurmi Market, Dala Hills, Minjibir, and the famous Kano tanneries, among others.
She said the exercise was designed to promote the visibility of Kano’s heritage assets and build local capacity in heritage management and preservation.
Mangzha added that more than 20 partner organisations including the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, the National Council for Arts and Culture, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, were participating in the programme.
She commended the Kano State Government for providing logistics, accommodation, and security support for participants, describing the gesture as a strong demonstration of the government’s commitment to heritage conservation and youth empowerment.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the History and Culture Bureau, Mr Ahmad Kabir Yusuf, described the collaboration as timely, noting that it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the bureau’s establishment.
He said the partnership aligned with the state’s vision of preserving and revitalising historic sites to attract tourism and global attention.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Aisha Saji, said the volunteers’ activities would help safeguard Kano’s cultural legacy and inspire young people to take pride in their heritage.
“This initiative is not only about preservation; it is about connecting our past to our future. The work done here will ensure that Kano’s unique story continues to be told to generations yet unborn,” she added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2025 UNESCO WHV Programme brings together volunteers from different parts of Nigeria and other African countries to participate in fieldwork, research, and documentation of significant cultural heritage sites.
