The Republic of Türkiye has identified 76 wooden and metal artifacts believed to belong to Nigeria, a development that could pave the way for their repatriation and further strengthen cultural relations between both countries.

The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mehmet Poroy, disclosed this on Thursday during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa Esq., in Abuja.

Ambassador Poroy revealed that Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism had traced the artifacts, adding that formal discussions on their return would begin once the Nigerian government officially identifies and lays claim to the objects.

“Our minister of culture and tourism has identified 76 wooden and metal objects that they think might belong to Nigeria. We received information about these artifacts last May and we are eager to see them returned to Nigeria,” Poroy said.

He further expressed optimism that a cultural cooperation agreement between both nations could be signed during the forthcoming visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Türkiye, describing it as a major step toward deepening bilateral cultural ties.

“We hope to sign a cultural cooperation agreement during the upcoming visit of Nigeria’s President to Turkey. We are committed to promoting cultural understanding and cooperation between our nations,” the ambassador added.

Beyond the repatriation discussions, Ambassador Poroy outlined plans to establish a Turkish cultural centre in Nigeria aimed at promoting traditional arts and supporting the education of young Nigerian women. He also invited Nigerian officials to upcoming Turkish cultural events, including a photo exhibition and a Turkish coffee chat.

In her response, Minister Musawa welcomed the development and stressed the urgency of concluding the cultural cooperation agreement. She urged officials on both sides to fast-track the process, noting the strategic importance of Nigeria in global cultural engagement.

“This is a golden opportunity for both countries to strengthen cultural diplomacy,” Musawa said. “Nigeria is the gateway to talking to the Black global community, purely because of our numbers and strength of expression. We urge officials to expedite the process of finalizing the cultural cooperation agreement.”

The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s interest in broader collaboration with Türkiye, particularly in the film industry, cultural exchanges, and women empowerment initiatives in fashion and the creative economy. She noted that such partnerships could enhance cultural understanding while driving economic growth through tourism and creative industries.

The identification of the artifacts and ongoing diplomatic engagements underscore a shared commitment by Nigeria and Türkiye to cultural restitution, heritage preservation, and expanded cooperation across the creative and cultural sectors.