Osogbo — The move towards the establishment of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, Osun State, has received a boost in Sydney, Australia, with the handing over of the first consignment of over 10,000 items which will form the core of the archives of the centre to the state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Already, the sprawling edifice which is to house the centre is nearing completion even as the state government had paid the sum of $680,000 for the acquisition of the archival materias while the Federal Government has approved a yearly grant of N500 million to the centre.

According to a statement issued from Sydney, Australia by the Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Kayode Oladeji, the consignment had been presented to the governor by Professor Ulli Beier, a cultural expert who also pledged to continue to support the efforts of Prince Oyinlola at reviving the culture and tradition of the Yoruba and that of the black race.

Speaking at a ceremony, Professor Beier said the choice of Osogbo as the of Centre was not a misplaced thing, adding that he was ready to assist in supervising the setting up of the archives when the structure of the Centre at its permanent site was completed.

Prince Oyinlola had informed Professor Beier that work at permanent site of the Centre in Osogbo was nearing completion.

He said his admnistration was committed to the establishment of the Centre and that no effort would be spared at ensuring its objectives were realised.

"To this effect, I am glad to inform you that President Yar'Adua has approved a yearly subvention of N500million(five hundred million Naira) for the Centre while our administration has also budgeted about N1billion for its take off"

Prince Oyinlola maintained that all hands were on deck as the Federal Government and the state government await the ratification of the Centre at UNESCO's Executive Board Session, next October.

Meanwhile, the remaining materials in the archives of Professor Beier are expected to be shipped into the country soon.