Turkey has identified 76 wooden and metal artefacts believed to belong to Nigeria and has expressed readiness to return them once the Nigerian government formally confirms ownership.
Mehmet Poroy, the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Hannatu Musawa, minister of art, culture, tourism and creative economy, in Abuja on Thursday. He said the artefacts were identified by Turkey’s ministry of culture and tourism following information received in May 2025.
Poroy noted that discussions on the return of the artefacts would begin immediately Nigeria officially lays claim to them. He also revealed that Turkey and Nigeria are preparing to deepen cultural ties, with plans to sign a cultural cooperation agreement during President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to Turkey next week.
Ahead of the visit, Tinubu appointed Dakingari Suleiman, former governor of Kebbi state, as ambassador-designate to Turkey. Poroy said Turkey is also considering the establishment of a Turkish cultural centre in Nigeria to promote traditional arts and support cultural education, particularly for young women.
Musawa welcomed the development and stressed the need to fast-track the cultural cooperation agreement. She highlighted Nigeria’s interest in collaborating with Turkey on film projects, cultural exchanges and initiatives aimed at empowering women in the creative and fashion industries.
The minister described the proposed partnership as an opportunity to strengthen cultural diplomacy and promote mutual understanding and economic growth between both countries.
