By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)
The 9-year-old Ijebu National Museum received a big boost at this year’s Ojudeoba Festival as the Director General National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Otunba Segun Runsewe presented the.museum with a plaque of commendation.
Otunba Runsewe who was led on a tour of the museum by the curator Wanda Ibru commended the curator and her committee members for doing a brilliant job in sustaining the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebus.
Ijebu National Museum located within the Awujale Pavilion is a well-secured in-house museum opened on March 8 2014 to mark the 80th birthday of Oba Sikiru Adetona Awujale of Ijebuland.
Appreciating the efforts of the monarch in the preservation of Ijebu heritage, Runsewe noted that a country without history would find it difficult to make progress.
He called on other ethnic nationalities in the country to take a cue from the Ijebu National Museum, saying each state or ethnic nationality should be able to tell its own stories to tourists and culture enthusiasts.
“What we are trying to do now with this in-house museum, is to encourage other states to take a cue from it so that they can have their own museums and when people come to their states, they have stories to tell tourists and cultural critics. For me, this is absolutely commendable and that is why I gave a plaque today (yesterday) to the Ijebu National Museum for doing a great job. For reminding us, if you don’t know where you are coming from it will be difficult to make progress.
“The younger ones today can see what happened in 53 with Tv, the sculpture of the Oba which they change from time to time to look very unique. For me, I must commend the Curator and the committee members for doing a brilliant job and sustaining this museum. What we need to do now is to link up this museum with other international museums. I’m sure in another few years, they will be thinking of expanding the museum,” he added.
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The DG who also presented the Awujale with a plague at the pavilion recommended that every year organisers of Ojude Oba should pick a cultural object from the festival to enrich the museum collection.
On this year’s Ojude Oba, Runsewe said, “Today, we are talking of experience, celebrating life with culture and royalty of a people that believe in their cultural brand. Now, both the Ijebus at home and abroad have come out in their numbers. I was at the immigration desk at the airport, on my way from Abuja. I was informed that over 2,500 diasporans arrived for this year’s Ojude Oba. That is to tell us that this is cultural content we must take seriously.
“Today, Ogun State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. You hardly hear of any kidnapping or violent crimes. So, if we have this kind of festival we need to promote and make sure it’s well preserved and promoted globally. We need to make sure that it cements a new future for our great country.
“Yesterday (Thursday) we all heard Mr. President telling us his relationship with the Awujale who, of course, is the oldest serving monarch in the history of mankind. Both leaders have come a long way. Today, nobody is talking about religion or any other thing. We are talking about celebrating the people.
According to the curator, Wanda Ibru the museum has been witnessing increased patronage from tourists and students noting that the museum is still undergoing development as the music section that will showcase works of Ijebu music icons such as Kwan 1 and Salawa Abeni will be opened soon.