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AE-FUNAI RESEARCHERS CLINCH PRESTIGIOUS £20,000 BRITISH MUSEUM GRANT TO PRESERVE AKWETE WEAVING HERITAGE

In a major boost to Nigeria’s cultural preservation efforts, researchers from Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike,  Ebonyi State have secured a highly competitive £20,000 international research grant from the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme, EMKP, at the British Museum, London.

The award, granted under the 2025–2026 funding cycle, will fund the project titled: “Ahia-Akwete Multi-Heddle Cloth Weaving Production of the Akwete People in Nigeria.”

VC, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu (2nd L) and Director, Research and Development, Prof. Robert Onyeneke (1st L) in a group photograph with two of the researchers – principal investigator, Ms. Chiaka Adaure Nnodi (2nd R), and co-applicant, Dr. Charles Okwuowulu (1st R) during their visit to VC in his office

 

The groundbreaking initiative will systematically document, digitally archive, and preserve the intricate multi-heddle weaving techniques, cultural symbolism, and indigenous knowledge systems of the Akwete Ndoki people of Abia State. The goal is to safeguard this endangered craft for intergenerational transmission and global academic research.

The EMKP selection panel cited the project’s robust methodology, exceptional multidisciplinary team, and the urgent need to preserve the Ahia-Akwete tradition as key reasons for its selection from a pool of global applicants.

The award letter was presented to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu by the Director of Research, Prof. Robert Onyeneke in company of the Principal Investigator, Chiaka Adaure Nnodi, and Co-Applicant,     Dr. Charles Okwuowulu.

Commending the team, Prof. Nwachukwu described the achievement as “a testament to AE-FUNAI’s growing global research footprint.”

“This is a proud moment for our university. You have brought international visibility and distinction to AE-FUNAI. I charge all staff to emulate this excellence by pursuing competitive grants that advance knowledge and elevate our institution’s global standing,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.

The multidisciplinary research team is  composed of  Chiaka Adaure Nnodi – Principal Investigator, Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Dr. Charles Okwuowulu – co-applicant, Reader in Film Studies, Departments of Theatre Arts and Mass Communication; Rosemary Chinyere George, Chinda Michael Ezebunwor and Ogobuchi Otuu Idam, and Dr. Chiemela Ogbonna – Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos; I

This milestone further reinforces AE-FUNAI’s strategic commitment to community-engaged scholarship, digital heritage preservation, and impactful global collaborations.

For more information on the project, visit the official EMKP archive page: https://www.emkp.org/ahia-akwete-cloth-weaving/.