Organizational Information

CBCIU is a fully autonomous entity, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. There are also two relevant MoUs between Ulli Beier and UNESCO, and between Federal Government and UNESCO, which clearly affirm the autonomy of CBCIU. It also has an independent governing board, of which two eminent Osogbo artists are members.

The State Government provided the physical facilities for the centre; it was also one of the categorical conditions of UNESCO that the state government would give the centre an annual grant.

The United States Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), and its parent body in Nigeria are affiliated to UNESCO through the Institute for African Culture and International Understanding, Abeokuta.

CBCIU is an independent Non-Profit organization which has the responsibility of promoting inter-religious and cultural dialogues, as well as peace and International Understanding. CBCIU has UNESCO’s mandate to promote knowledge-sharing, uphold diversity, dignity, tolerance, pluralism and democratic principles – especially in the context of globalization.

CBCIU is accordingly concerned with special and warranted efforts necessary to defend peace in the minds of the populace, highlight efforts at preventing evils of war, hatred and all forms of inequalities and unfairness. CBCIU is also working towards getting the populace to embrace peaceful solutions rather than bitterness, confrontation and violence. It is also concerned about improvement in the living standard of the populace through good governance, globalization and the utilization of cultures and religions as agents of change.

CBCIU has since its inception in January 2009 boosted research activities, particularly about the black race.

CBCIU has also promoted interactions among cultures. It has prosecuted its major objective of promoting inter-religious and cultural dialogues religiously, as well as fostering international peace and understanding. It has been associated with the staging of no fewer than three (3) international conferences in Osogbo, Nigeria, and these have attracted participants from all over the world, including representatives of UNESCO, the African Union, ECOWAS and several other organizations.