The U.S Embassy in Nigeria is set to spend the sum of $127,000 on the digital documentation and conservation of Busanyin Shrine in Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.
Mary Beth Leonard, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, stated in the signing of the project’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday, November 8, that the initiative was set in motion by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
She revealed that the reason for the grant was to preserve the ancient archaeological sites, historic buildings, monuments, and major museum collections opened to the public and protected by the laws of the country they are located in.
Leonard said: “Today, we’re proud to be launching our 2020 AFCP award to digitally document and conserve the Busanyin shrine located within the Osun-Osogbo sacred grove.
“CyArk and its local partners were awarded a $127,000 grant under the AFCP small grant programme to help document a series of shrines in the sacred grove and provide training to local professionals to build capacity and digital documentation skills and cultural heritage management.
“The 3D digital documentation of the shrine is the necessary first step to provide the most accurate record of the current conditions of the site and effectively plan a restoration project that will increase resilience at the site during a natural disaster or extreme weather conditions,”
Leanard also explained that measures were being put in place by the United States and Nigeria to stop the exportation of prohibited items of cultural property to the U.S
