By Kenneth Aidelojie PhD
In the Sukur Cultural Landscape of northern Nigeria, a UNESCO World Heritage site, female education is the cornerstone of sustainable development. The ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals Working Group (SDGWG) provides the global policy framework for this transformation, emphasizing that heritage is not just a relic of the past but a driver for SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 1 (No Poverty).
ICOMOS SDGWG Objectives and the Nigerian Context
The ICOMOS SDGWG aims to localize the UN 2030 Agenda by integrating heritage conservation with socio-economic empowerment. In Nigeria, these objectives focus on “People” and “Prosperity” ensuring that heritage sites serve as engines for community resilience. By advocating for Policy Guidance on Heritage and the SDGs, the working group encourages a shift where cultural preservation includes the intellectual and economic empowerment of the women who are the primary custodians of intangible heritage.
Contributions of ICOMOS Nigeria
ICOMOS Nigeria plays a pivotal role in translating these international objectives into grassroots impact. Through strategic partnerships, such as the recent U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant, ICOMOS Nigeria has moved beyond physical documentation to holistic community development.
Poverty Eradication (SDG 1): ICOMOS Nigeria facilitates “indigenous knowledge transfer” and vocational training. By documenting and teaching traditional architectural and agricultural techniques to women, they transform domestic skills into marketable expertise within the burgeoning ecotourism and conservation sectors.
Gender Equality (SDG 5): The committee actively works to dismantle patriarchal barriers in Sukur. By involving women in site management and decision-making processes, ICOMOS Nigeria ensures that female voices influence the preservation of the Hidi (traditional) governance system. This inclusion directly counters cultural norms that previously restricted girls’ access to education and leadership.
Through these actions, ICOMOS Nigeria demonstrates that protecting the “Outstanding Universal Value” of Sukur is inseparable from educating its daughters. Education provides the agency required for women to lead their communities out of poverty, ensuring that Sukur remains a living, flourishing cultural landscape.
ICOMOS SDGWG Objectives and the Nigerian Context
The ICOMOS SDGWG aims to localize the UN 2030 Agenda by integrating heritage conservation with socio-economic empowerment. In Nigeria, these objectives focus on “People” and “Prosperity” ensuring that heritage sites serve as engines for community resilience. By advocating for Policy Guidance on Heritage and the SDGs, the working group encourages a shift where cultural preservation includes the intellectual and economic empowerment of the women who are the primary custodians of intangible heritage.
Contributions of ICOMOS Nigeria
ICOMOS Nigeria plays a pivotal role in translating these international objectives into grassroots impact. Through strategic partnerships, such as the recent U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant, ICOMOS Nigeria has moved beyond physical documentation to holistic community development.
Poverty Eradication (SDG 1): ICOMOS Nigeria facilitates “indigenous knowledge transfer” and vocational training. By documenting and teaching traditional architectural and agricultural techniques to women, they transform domestic skills into marketable expertise within the burgeoning ecotourism and conservation sectors.
Gender Equality (SDG 5): The committee actively works to dismantle patriarchal barriers in Sukur. By involving women in site management and decision-making processes, ICOMOS Nigeria ensures that female voices influence the preservation of the Hidi (traditional) governance system. This inclusion directly counters cultural norms that previously restricted girls’ access to education and leadership.
Through these actions, ICOMOS Nigeria demonstrates that protecting the “Outstanding Universal Value” of Sukur is inseparable from educating its daughters. Education provides the agency required for women to lead their communities out of poverty, ensuring that Sukur remains a living, flourishing cultural landscape.
Learn more about the women in Sukur, here:
