Executive Committee

A former university lecturer, and researcher of traditional architecture with a specific understanding of intangible cultural perceptions as an overarching paradigm for architectural elements using the case study of the Yoruba people in Nigeria, Togo, and Brazil. She is a member of the Architecture and Urbanism Research Hub domiciled at the University of Lagos. Her research on Nigeria spans the built environment, art, and heritage sector enabling her to interrogate culture and identity from a wider perspective. Her work focuses on the identification, documentation, and preservation of heritage sites, buildings, and cultures through inclusive participation. She is a consultant for the European Union National Institute for Culture (EUNIC-Nigeria Cluster) on Museums. She is particular about the decolonisation of knowledge to reflect African indigenous systems in solving Africa’s heritage challenges.

His professional career began with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, until his joining the University in 2016. He obtained PhD from the University of East Anglia and enjoys researching the socio-political as well as cultural developments of Hausa region of Nigeria; particularly its past settlement systems, migrations, social identity and museum collections.

He is a registered Town Planner with the Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC) of Nigeria, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and an Associate member of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Historic Cities, Towns and Villages (CIVVIH). His areas of specialization include Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (CHIA) and Historic Urban Landscape Management. His current research interest includes urban heritage, cultural landscape, heritage settings and heritage tourism.

She is currently the South Eastern Regional Adviser of the AWTPN and Head of Department, Monuments Heritage and Sites in National Museum of Unity Enugu. She seeks to reinstate the excellence of African ingenuity to confront challenges and alien solutions to genuine African problems.

Ishaya has been involved in research in the field of Archaeology, Geography, Cultural and Heritage Management in the Joint Research Project between Frankfurt Universitat Am Main Germany, Centre for Trans-Saharan Studies University of Maiduguri and National Commission for Museums and Monuments. With several years of Hands-On working experience in the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and other Projects in Nigeria and abroad. He has undergone series of training on Computer Software Programs, on Analysis and Reporting using ODK (Open Data Kits), Kobo Collect, GIS, Total Station and other Demographic Pacts for Projection and Forecasting. Ishaya was one of the 6 African Heritage Professionals that were trained in Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) Training on Climate Change and African Heritage Sites.

As Director, Heritage Monuments and Sites, he served briefly as the Director overseeing the office of the NCMM Director-General, prior to his retirement. In addition, he has held different positions and performed several roles in cultural resource management, both at the levels of developing and implementing policy. He has contributed, as a heritage expert, to the development of several World Heritage nomination management plans and nomination dossiers. He has been involved in dozens of community based cultural management initiatives including heritage conservation and promotion; creative and sustainable development activities; training and entrepreneurship among rural and urban communities. He has also been Nigeria’s focal point for the 1972 World Heritage Convention. While very keen on the linkage between heritage resource management and human development paradigms, he is passionate in learning about values of traditional knowledge systems and their deployment in addressing emerging social and economic challenges amongst rural and urban communities. In his various professional capacities in the world heritage program, Aliyu has been a lead advocate for African regional integration through transboundary world heritage nomination process as a decolonization tool. In his career development, his focus has been on the mentorship of young heritage professionals within the principles of value-based inclusive and community participatory approach.