Peter Adewale Jegede  | Consultant Curator and Heritage Researcher, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential  Library, Nigeria  & 4th Cohort of Case Study Researcher, Open Restitution Africa 

Which workshop(s) did you attend? 

I have participated in several HERITΛGE programmes, including Engaging Communities in  Cultural Heritage, Temporary Exhibition and Touring Strategies, Conservation I, Conservation II, and I will complete Conservation III in November. 

Was the training an opportunity to enhance your connection with your peers? 

Yes. The workshops created a space where practitioners across Africa and beyond could exchange ideas and challenges. These connections have proved valuable in  my ongoing work with communities affected by restitution. 

Has the training contributed towards the improvement of your career? 

Absolutely.The courses strengthened my curatorial and research practice, especially in community engagement, preventive conservation, and exhibition  development. They also expanded my professional visibility in discussions around restitution in Nigeria. 

Do you feel that your ability to perform relevant tasks has improved? 

Yes. I now approach community-focused heritage work with clearer methods and greater confidence. The HERITΛGE training refined my skills in co-creation,  documentation, and culturally sensitive interpretation, all of which I apply directly in  my restitution engagements. 

Following the completion of the training, has your project benefited? How? 

My work at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Open Restitution Africa and  my broader engagements in Nigeria and beyond have benefited significantly. The training has helped me design community-centred dialogues following  restitution, such as the Restitution 101 Screening and Case Study Discussions that  attracted about ninety participants. It shaped the way I facilitated conversations with  descendant communities, allowing them to reflect on memory, trauma, and healing  from their own perspective. 

It has also strengthened my collaboration with communities in Ile-Ife, who are now  exploring opportunities for a similar programme. The knowledge gained from HERITΛGE directly informed how I approached these discussions, ensuring that community  voices remain central in post-restitution interpretation and planning. 

Would you recommend this training to others? 

Yes, without hesitation. The workshops are practical, engaging, and transformative. Anyone working in heritage, particularly those involved in archaeological work,  preservation of heritage sites, collection management, exhibition, restitution or community engagement, will find them invaluable.