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THE Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, has appealed to the federal government to adequately fund the National Commissision for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) to preserve Nigeria’s history and cultural heritage
Olatubosun made the appeal at an event to mark the 2026 International Museum Day organised by the National Museum for Unity in Ibadan on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for this year’s celebration is “MUSEUMS: UNITING A DIVIDED WORLD”.
NAN reports that International Museum Day is celebrated annually on May 18.
The commissioner also commended Pamela Otuka, the Curator of the National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, for the transformation taking place in the museum.
In his message to the event, the Director-Genaral of the NCMM, Mr Olugbile Holloway, said that movable and immovable artifacts, archival documents and others play vital roles in recognising the importance of shared humanity and human reliability throughout life.
Holloway, represented by Otuka, said that this year’s theme highlights the role of museums in societal development, uniting communities worldwide for peace.
“As we all know, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria has consistently fulfilled this role over time.
“The museum world, guided by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), has always been sensitive to global human activities and has shaped its annual themes accordingly.
“Continuing this tradition, ICOM has focused on the ongoing disruptions in human relationships, including crises, conflicts, wars, and other troubling developments that hinder the progress humanity has recently made.
“While various groups work to address these issues with limited success, ICOM’s goal for 2026 is to redirect museum efforts toward leveraging resources through activities, events, and dialogue to promote peace and understanding among individuals and communities,” he said.
He, however, called on individuals, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to join the NCMM in utilizing the vast resources available across museums nationwide, including private ones and the creative industry, to combat the darkness afflicting humanity.
“The National Commission for Museums and Monuments, which is responsible for establishing museums and facilitating private museums, has been introducing innovations to enhance visitor and audience experiences.
“We have launched the country’s first digital museum and upgraded our Lagos exhibition to meet international standards.
“These progressive efforts reflect the vision of the current management, with plans to elevate selected museums across the country accordingly.
“It is important to remember that museums, regardless of location, belong to the public and should be supported and protected,” the D-G said.
In his remarks at the event, renowned artist and culture promoter, Prince Tunde Odunlade, called for the preservation of the country’s history and cultural hertage.
“We must preserve our history with all that we’ve got. We need to intensify more efforts in preserving our history.
“This museum is very important and we have only four of it in Nigeria. They are top of the line museum, Ibadan, Enugu, Maidugri and Sokoto.
“Every ethnic group in Nigeria have parts of their identities in these museums. These museum are used in educating and preserving our history.
“A society without art is like an asylum,” he said. (NAN)
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Tags: Adequate Funding Museum Day