The long drawn argument that trailed the establishment of the Institute for African Culture and International Understanging came to an end penultimate week with the formal launching of the Institute at the controversial Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The decision to bring the UNESCO sponsored Institute to Obasanjo's Presidential library premises in Ogun State was highly criticized by Africa's first Nobel laureate and notable socio-political critic and Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, Professor Wole Soyinka.

In an erticle widely published in various news media in Nigeria, the Nobel Laureate had challenged the competence of Chief Obasanjo's Presidential Library in hosting the UNESCO's category two facility, which, among other things, was meant to house Ulli and Georgina Beier's archieves made of books, films, CDs, art works and other cultural collections about Yoruba civilization benevolently donated to Nigerian government.

Matssura D.G UNESCO and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Osun State governor.

Soyinka, in that brilliant piece titled "Misgoverned Governor" had argued that "My prolonged collaboration with that institution indicates quite plainly that it endorses actualities, be they of nature or man's intelligence - Angkor Wat, Osun Grove, Sintra, Abu Simbel, the Alhambra, active programmes with records to show for their existence, specialised institu-tions, etc.

I have yet to learn that 'yet-to-be-created' notions, expectations and intentions, even when backed by five-star hotels and promissory notes and government subsidies, qualify for UNESCO designations. Functioning is the ultimate criteria, not simply a building or complex.

Those who want to pursue illusions are free to do so. It is when attempts are made to stuff such illusions with the palpable life labour of others as credentials that we are forced to bring the House of Cards crashing down on their heads."

But with the formal launching of that Institute and also the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) in Oshogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, as a member of the United Nation's Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, recorded another important mileage.

The launching of the two Institute in Abeokuta and Oshogbo, South West, Nigeria, at a critical moment in global history, when international peace and understanding has eluded the people of Gaza and Israel; by a Japanese born UNESCO chieftain on its own merit underlies the importance of peace and international understanding in the ever changing world polarized by ethnic tensions, religion and other socio-cultural pluralities.

The two ceremonies were performed by the Director General of UNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, who was in Nigeria for a three-day official visit to the country.

Nigeria secured the final approval to host the two culture outlets, regarded as first of their kind in Africa, as Category 2 facilities under the auspices of UNESCO, last October in Paris during the 180th session of the Executive Board of the international organisation.

While Matsuura was present in Abeokuta, the commissioning in Osogbo was performed on his behalf by one of his assistants, Prof. Nureni Tidjani Serpos.

Indeed, Matsuura, who is having his last official visit to Nigeria as UNESCO Director General, was scheduled to handle the two events personally; and that was why the event in Abeokuta was initially billed for Tuesday and that of Osogbo, on Wednesday.

He was expected to have arrived in Nigeria on Monday night. But he did not arrive until midnight on Tuesday due to bad weather at the Charles De Gaulle International Airport, Paris, thus, the events at Abeokuta and Oshogbo had to be held on the same day yesterday.

In Osogbo, dignitaries were not aware of the changes in the timetable of the commissioning as they began to troop in as early as 7.00 a.m. And before 9.00 a.m., the initial kick-off time of the event, the centre was already crowded.

Eminent Nigerians from all walks of life, as well as traditional rulers from Yoruba land, and Benin Republic were in attendance.

They included Ekiti State deputy governor, Alhaji Sikiru Lawal; his counterpart from Ondo, Chief Omola Oluwateru; Minister for Youth Development, Chief Olasunkanmi Akinlabi; former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; culture patriarch and renowned broadcaster, Segun Olusola; the National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, (South West), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo; Senator Yinka Omilani; former Deputy National Chairman of PDP (South), Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, among others. They were all waiting for the arrival from Abeokuta of the Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Besides being the chief host of the centre in Osogbo, Oyinlola, in fact, led the Nigerian delegation that presented an invitation to Matsuura on October 17, 2008, for the state visit.

Also, the centre in Osogbo, under UNESCO arrangement, is regarded as a branch of the Institute in Abeokuta, thus, the commissioning in Abeokuta has to come first before that of Osogbo, and Oyinlola should be in the entourage that would welcome Matsuura to Nigeria.

But no vacuum was created, as the guests were richly entertained with a series of cultural performances from different cultural troupes from Lagos, Osogbo, Ede, among others. The helicopter that brought in Oyinlola, Culture and Tourism Minister, Senator Bello Gada and the Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, Serpos, landed around 12.05 p.m. and the event kicked off 20 minutes later with recitation of the National Anthem.

President Yar'Adua, represented by the Culture Minister, Bello Garda, reiterated the commitment of his administration to the sustenance of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding.

He described the Centre as a rallying point for both Africans at home and in the Diaspora, and expressed delight that Nigeria had eventually succeeded in attracting the Centre as well as the Institute in Abeokuta to the country.

The President, praising Oyinlola for his relentless efforts in making the centre a reality, noted that the facility was in line with the 7-point Agenda of his administration to explore culture and tourism to enhance the development of the nation.

The president also promised that the Federal Government would continue to render necessary support to facilitate the survival of the UNESCO Centre.

Delivering Matsuura's speech, Serpos commended Osun State for hosting the Centre, noting that it would accelerate the development of rich cultural heritage in a pluralistic society such as Nigeria as well as enhance the global cultural diversity.

The UNESCO chief, while lauding Oyinlola for his initiative in providing a befitting physical facility to host the Centre, also expressed gratitude to the citizens of the state for their commitment to the project.

Also, encomiums were showered on Prof. Ulli and Georgina Beier and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support in making the Centre a reality.

Matsuura, who underscored the importance of culture in the development of human race, noted that the Centre, besides expanding the scope in the study of African culture, would also make significant input in the delivery of UNESCO's programmes to the world.

Matsuura, who was conferred with a chieftaincy title of Agbasaniyi (promoter of culture) by the Ataoja of Osogbo during the event, thanked the Federal Government, Oyinlola and the people of Osogbo for their hospitality and commitment to the project.

Elated Oyinlola, who bagged a gold medal award from UNESCO for his unrelenting commitment to the promotion of culture, noted that the Centre had added another feather to the cap of his administration during which time he said the Osun groove was also recently granted the status of a World Heritage site by a UN organ.

Describing the event as a watershed in an attempt to promote the rich cultural heritage of the nation, he noted that the Centre would enhance cultural dialogue among nations, civilizations and religions.

He said the government had taken delivery and secured the archival materials belonging to the Beiers, which he noted formed the nucleus of the Centre, at a cost of $680,000 to the state.

Although Beier and his wife, who were expected to be part of the event, were unavoidably absent due to ill health, the governor expressed gratitude for their support and co-operation, calling on others who believe in international understand-ing to fulfill their promise to the Centre.

"We have commenced and we promise to improve and maintain the highest possible standards in the service to be provided by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding. We would welcome further collaboration in the core areas of UNESCO'S mandate like education, science and technology and communication." the governor said.

On display on the ground floor of the two-storey building were the collections received from the Beiers.

Located within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), the event at Abeokuta was attended by the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, Oyinlola, Gada, who represented Yar'Adua, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, Prof. Michael Omolewa, traditional rulers and Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Adegbemi Onakoya.

For Obasanjo, it was a dream come true as the journey to yesterday's event was by no means smooth. He recalled the strong opposition to the location of the Institute within the premises of his library.

In his address, Obasanjo described the setting up of the UNESCO's culture edifice in Nigeria as one of the "enduring legacies of Mr. Matsuura's administration within the framework of the culture component of UNESCO's mandate."

He said: "The wheel of development of Africa needs to turn more quickly. The road ahead for Africa is dotted with challenges of governance in sectors affecting human security, food and nutrition."

Obasanjo praised President Yar'Adua for his passion for the establishment of the institute.

Before the actual commissioning, Matsuura had congratulated the Nigerian government for its initiative towards acknowledging Africa's unique cultural diversity. The UNESCO boss also thanked the government "for its decision to assure the financing of the centre, starting from 2008".

In his speech titled: "Taking Points" Matsuura paid special tribute to Obasanjo for his "personal efforts in moving the process forward and in the actual creation of the Centre".

Institute for African Culture and International Understanding is established to, among other things:

*Raise awareness among stake holders at the national, regional and international levels about the important role played by cultural diversity and its corollary, intercultural dialogue, for social cohesion in pluralistic societies.

* Facilitate the network of sister institutions working in these fields and inducing relevant academic and scientific studies.

* Provide capacity building through the promotion of knowledge sharing about spiritual and other religious traditions and their underlying values in order to strengthen harmonic co-existence.

* Highlight the values of diversity and dialogue by studying tangible and intangible heritage as well as contemporary cultural expressions in the African region and the diasporas among others.