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Tag: National Museum

  • National Museum, L’Extinction artists mark world conjoined twins day

    National Museum, L’Extinction artists mark world conjoined twins day

    The National Museum, Lagos, and artists from L’Extinction Art have marked World Conjoined Twins Day with an exhibition featuring conjoined plantains, fused carrots, and joined thorn carvings, unveiled as part of a global call for greater support for children with disabilities.

    Titled Conjoined Rarities, the exhibition was created by twin artists and founders of No to Extinction Art and L’Extinction Art, Kehinde and Taiwo Olapeju, known as the Olapeju Twins.

    The centrepiece features the twin sisters merging their heads in a conceptual installation that symbolises the physical and emotional realities of conjoined twins.

    Kehinde, who declared the exhibition open and serves as the Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador for Environment, said the United Nations General Assembly officially set aside 24 November each year as World Conjoined Twins Day, following a Saudi led initiative to promote global action for children with disabilities.

    She explained that conjoined twins “are rare twins who are born with their bodies physically connected,” noting that the level of fusion can range from minor tissue links to complex connections involving shared organs.

    She said the 2025 commemoration marks only the second observance of World Conjoined Twins Day and that Conjoined Rarities aims to create a platform for medical treatment for twins and children with disabilities.

    “We created the art installation of conjoined plantains, fused carrots, and joined thorn carvings to illustrate conjoined twins and to identify physically with twins born with disabilities, in order to create increased healthcare awareness for them.

    “We are exploring the theme of World Conjoined Twins Day artistically by exhibiting courage and compassion while calling for stronger global support for children with disabilities as we stage this exhibition across the globe,” she said.

    The curator, Alabi Abiodun, praised the National Museum, Lagos, for hosting the exhibition despite ongoing renovation work.

    She said the exhibition would be displayed in galleries across Nigeria and internationally, allowing collectors to acquire the conjoined plantains, fused carrots, and joined thorn carvings.

    She stressed that the twins’ merged head installation is not for sale.

    “The original conceptual artwork, which comprises the merged twin sisters, is priceless, but art collectors will be able to collect the exclusive print versions as well as the conjoined plantains, carrots, and thorn carvings for humanity,” she said.

  • US govt awards National Museum 95,000 dollars grant

    US govt awards National Museum 95,000 dollars grant

    US Mission has said that it spent over $1.3 million in grants across Nigeria over the past decade in support of cultural preservation programmes. These grants have funded a wide range of projects, including restoration, documentation, conservation, capacity building, and exchange programs, according to US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Lee Satterfield.

    She spoke at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, last week during the launch of the $95,000 grant to the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grant programme. The grant, she said, will fund the Preserving Nigeria’s Heritage project, which will create a digital inventory of the Nigerian Commission for Museums and Monuments’ collections and establish museum and community education programmes.

    “Today, we’re thrilled to announce the take-off of the $95,000 grant to the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grant program. This grant will fund the “Preserving Nigeria’s Heritage” project, which will create a digital inventory of the Nigerian Commission for Museums and Monuments collections and establish museum and community education programmes.

    She noted that the launch of the project is to celebrate a significant partnership between the U.S. Department of State, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments. 

    Satterfield, who believed that culture policy is security policy, said this significance is why the United States has a proud history of supporting cultural preservation efforts around the world, including Nigeria.

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    “Through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, we have demonstrated our commitment by awarding over $1.3 million in grants across Nigeria over the past decade. These grants have funded a wide range of projects, including restoration, documentation, conservation, capacity building, and exchange programs.

    “I will give a couple of outstanding examples: In 2020, we awarded the U.S. non-profit organization CyArk a $125,000 grant to digitally survey and document the Busanyin Shrine within the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove.  That effort created a digital record of the shrine to use in planning future projects and preservation initiatives, and at the same time provided training in digital tools and cultural heritage management for local museum professionals.

    “In 2022, we awarded a $114,000 grant to Yale University to support a wood conservation partnership between the National Museum in Lagos and Yale’s Art Gallery. This project serves as a great example of the collaborative spirit that fosters cultural exchange and strengthens the preservation of Nigerian heritage,” she added. 

     She said the Preserving Nigeria’s Heritage project will have a significant impact by improving access to Nigeria’s cultural treasures for a wider audience, both in Nigeria and internationally, enhancing the professional skills of museum staff through training and collaboration, and raising awareness about the importance of cultural preservation.

    She recalled that the US and Nigeria signed a cultural property agreement in January 2022 and that while the United States is committed to protecting cultural property all over the world, ‘our closest collaborations and working relationships are with our bilateral agreement partners.’

    “This is Nigeria’s first Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grant, and it demonstrates our commitment to working with Nigeria to protect, honor, and preserve its cultural heritage.  The United States remains a steadfast partner in Nigeria’s efforts to safeguard its rich cultural heritage. We are confident that this grant will contribute significantly to this ongoing mission,” she noted.  

    Acting Director General NCMM, Mr. Emmanuel Babatunde Adebiyi commended the US Mission for its continuous support in the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural properties that spread across the country. He said the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and by extension Nigeria is blessed by the supports received from the US Mission. “We have been having immense collaborations between Nigeria and US in the last two years particularly in culture sector,” he added. 

    Adebiyi disclosed that following an understanding reached between NCC and the US Homeland Security, the commission no longer need to go through tedious law suits or diplomatic rigmarole to retrieve stolen artefacts from US. “The uncommon financial largesse US being giving to Nigeria is appreciated,” he said.     

    Principal Curator, National Museum Lagos, Chizoba Joy Ephraim who recalled her four weeks residency at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, said it was an honor for her to obtain professional skills, learn, unlearn and relearn about museum practices.  She observed that the most interesting parts of her visits were the use of visuals which makes the galleries livelier. 

    “Every museum is unique in their mission and vision. The most interesting parts of my visits were the use of visuals which makes the galleries livelier. It will be appreciated if The Metropolitan Museum can add this to their package for us.

    “Interacting with collections in the galleries is very vital, when visitors communicate with an object or objects while in a gallery tour, it gives them the courage to come back again to finish the discussion they started with the collections.

    “In this regard, documentation of museum collections is said to be the heartbeat of museum, without documentation an object has no identity, therefore documentation add value and regard to museum collections,” she said.

    The US team led by Consular General Will Stevens, and Metropolitan Museum representative Savita Monie, took a few tour of the exhibition of artefacts restored during the collaboration between Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, the National Museum Lagos, National Commission for Museums and Monuments and Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. The collaboration was aimed to equip conservators at the National Museum Lagos with advanced storage, documentation and treatment techniques to help Nigeria preserve its historic artefacts.

  • Friends give National Museum facelift to honour Akwaaba man

    Friends give National Museum facelift to honour Akwaaba man

    Family, friends and professional colleagues converged on the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos last Saturday to surprise one of their own, the Chief Executive Officer and organiser of Akwaaba Travel Market Limited Mr. Ikechi Uko, who turned 60, with a special birthday bash.

    The surprise package held in his honour by Friends of Ikechi included the painting of images of some iconic heritage sites (Seven Wonders of Nigeria) on the wall leading from the gate to the museum, painting of the museum courtyard, renovation of the museum reception, its ceiling and some lighting. All these were done as a tribute to his contributions to tourism industry.

    The Seven Wonders of Nigeria is part of the 35 most fascinating tourism destinations in Nigeria compiled by Uko in 2020, following a search trip he led to identify and market the tourism destinations peculiar to each state of the country.

    Among the destinations are Badagry Beach in Lagos State, Ado Awaye Suspended Lake in Oyo State; Obudu Mountain in Cross River State, Riyom Rock in Plateau State; Owu Waterfall in Kwara State and Mambila Plateau in Taraba State.

    Former Director-General, National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Chief Olusegun Runsewe, who unveiled the images commended Uko for his contributions toward the growth of tourism, travels, aviation and hospitality industries.

    Expressing shock at the birthday package, Uko said: “This is enough to make someone collapse but I thank God I don’t have heart condition.

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    “I mean this is a National Museum and for people to decide to renovate the National Museum in my honour it is amazing. I got messages from people, saying: ‘I am a Chef because of you, am this and that because of you’ and am wondering how it did happen because I was not conscious of some of these things. And for the thought of it, I cried,” he said.

    On what this honour has demanded of him, he said: “Two things, it is either I retire because this is a legacy. After you get to a particular point, what you do next is legacy.  So, one of it is to retire and do some other things or reinforce in what you have done. I reach out to a lot of people. I like to give out more to Nigeria, but I am sad because of where we are despite everything they said I have done. We have not played to the highest level of tourism.”

    The tourism expert urged the government to focus more on tourism and work with people who have the skills and network to take charge. He observed that of the seven wonders sites, about three are not doing very well for security reasons, adding that each of them is very strong for tourism.

    In appreciation of the kind gesture, he said, it behooved on him to do more. “It is to do more and to break new grounds. I am already doing something new and a lot more in different directions. We have learnt a lot and acquired more experiences from the field, so we will put that into use.”

    Curator National Museum, Lagos, Mr. Linus Kasai Kingi said Uko had distinguished himself as a tourism, aviation and hospitality expert. “Uko has paid attention to the promotion of historical sites.The museum management appreciates the legacy laid here today with the wall murals and improving on the appearance of the museum.This will go a long way in attracting more visitors here,” he said.

    Kingi described the support as a timely intervention because at a point the condition of the facility was becoming an embarrassment. 

    ”The facilities in the Lagos Museum are not as welcoming as they should be and they know also that apart from what government can do, they too as individuals and cooperate organisations can assist.’’

    They observe that the reception of the museum has been in a state of disrepute.

    “They thought that the first impression people have about a people is found in their museum, their culture and how their history are preserved,” he added.

    He noted that ordinarily, the organisers could have hosted Uko in a big event centre that would be made available to them free of charge because they are industry players.

    Some tourism practitioners who couldn’t attend the party physically sent in their goodwill messages via online video. A tourism consultant, Stella Fubara described Uko as a fellow with a great spirit and passion for the tourism industry. Also, the Managing Director SAHCO, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, said, ‘you have made great impact and I pray this emerge as a new season for you.’

    Nigerian dancer, Adeola Adebo, aka Ire D Stage Devi was on stage to thrill the guests. She recalled that ‘there is no Ire without Ikechi Uko,’ saying this is 20 years of supporting her as an artiste after attending an edition of AKWAABA Travel Market with the quest to perform.’

    “You made me fulfilled and you have been supporting me since then. Thank you for introducing AKWAABA African Travel Market and for supporting everyone in the tourism value chain,” she said. 

    successful in what we do, we now have a voice. What we need now is to be able to bring the voice together just like saint Ann said.

    What do you think we can do, to compliment your own efforts?

    For me, from what have heard from many successful country is that tourism cannot work without government. So Nigeria government need to focus more on tourism and work with people who have the skills, who have the network, who have things needed. And there are a lot of people with all those skills.

    Seven wonder’s, what is your impression about them?

    Yes, each of those seven wonders, maybe two or three are not doing very well for security reasons but each and every one of them are very strong for tourism.

    The next turn of ten years what are you looking at ?

    To do more and to break new grounds. Am already doing something new and a lot more in different directions. We have learnt a lot and acquire more from the field of experience so we will be able to put that into use.

  • OAU students advise FG to renovate National Museum, Lagos

    OAU students advise FG to renovate National Museum, Lagos

    Some students from the Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ), Ile-Ife, on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to renovate the National Museum Lagos to boost tourism and education.

    The students from the institution’s Department of Fine and Applied Arts told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, in Lagos that the museum which housed the entire history of the nation was not in proper state.

    They said that the vicinity of the museum was disappointing and lacked what it takes to attract local and international tourists.

    NAN reports that the 37 students were final year students who had come to gain more knowledge in Ancient African Arts from the museum.

    One of the students, Victor Atser, said that the museum which was known as the home of history was not well maintained as it appeared like an ancient building and was long overdue for renovation.

    “Actually the vicinity looks unattractive, no wonder we do not have huge patronage from the local and international tourists here like in other countries.”

    Another student, Ronke Okusi, said that the museum’s management must work on installing functional air conditioners in all the galleries to sustain the life span of collections there, as the entire place was not conducive .

    “Learning will be difficult here for most of primary and secondary school students. If the management cannot afford air conditioners then they should supply fans there for the kids.

    “Power outage is another problem here which needs to be solved, ”he said.

    Similarly Joseph Idowu said that a National Museum of that repute should be bigger and more spacious for large number of students and tourists.

    “The galleries within the museum are too small, we are 37 in number and were splitted ourselves into two groups to be able to comprehend what we were taught,” he said.

    Also, Bolarinwa Samuel, the President, Association of the Obafemi Awolowo University Fine and Applied Arts Students, urged government to work tirelessly to renovate the national museum so as to pace up with other international museums.

    “We cannot develop the tourism industry without ensuring that our museums are in good shape because for some international tourists, the museum is usually the first place of call.

    “The Federal Government should fund the museum properly so that the problem of power outage is resolved along with some other maintenance culture,” he said.

    NAN reports that the students lauded knowledge gained at the museum which had to do with Akwanchi Monoliths, Epa mask, Nok Esien and Benin Arts.

    They said they had been able to visibly juxtapose the difference between the ancient arts and the contemporary arts which would influence the kind of arts each of them could create.

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  • Review policy on ‘No snapping of pictures at museums’, visitors tells commission

    Some visitors to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Lagos have called on its management to change its policy of “No to picture taking of the antics, antiquities and artifacts at national museums.”

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Monday in Lagos that museums were tourist centres for visitors, students on excursions and tourists.

    They said such people should be allowed to snap pictures at museums to remind them of when they visited and what they saw and admired during such visits.

    They said pictures taken at museums by international visitors and tourists would serve as souvenirs to promote such places when they return to their home countries.

    Mr David Aransiola, a sculptor, said that managements of museums around the world allow visitors to take pictures while visiting their museums.

    He said that it was strange to him that the National Museum policy was different from international standards.

    “I have been to most of the developed countries’ museums and I took pictures there; but here, it is a different story entirely and it’s discouraging.

    “ For a country trying to build its inbound tourism, this policy is not friendly and should be reviewed because the museum has everything it takes to attract international tourists.”

    Also, Mrs Judith Onafowokan, a teacher said that the management was reducing the status of the museum by initiating such a policy.

    Onafowokan said that when pictures are taken at museums by local and foreign visitors, they would be creating awareness on the existence of such museums back home.

    She urged the management to review its policy so that visitors could further market the nation’s museums and other tourist sites.

    “It is easier to market the museum when its management allows visitors, tourists and students on excursion are allowed to snap pictures within its premises.”

    Similarly, Mr Iliasu Ibrahim, a businessman, said that denying visitors from taking pictures at the museum was not appropriate.

    Ibrahim said that visitors had paid to enter the museum and should be allowed to enjoy full value of their money.

    “I paid before I was allowed in; only to enter and be told that I would not be allowed to take pictures,” he said.

    However, Mrs Edith Ekunke, the Curator of the National Museum Lagos, in her reaction said that visitors were not allowed to take pictures of the artifacts because flash lights from cameras could affect their natural quality.

    Ekunke said that several maintenance measures were adopted to ensure the artifacts within the museum were preserved and would not entertain any act that would be regretted later on.

    She said that theft was also an aspect the museum was guiding against, adding that when people take pictures of the artifacts, they end up cloning them for commercial purpose.

    “We want people to understand that flash light from cameras has a negative effect on the artifacts and people tend to carve replica of what we have here to be sold to some other people.

    “ These are some negative occurrences we guide against,” she said.

  • Encomiums as Ambode unveils new National Museum

    Encomiums as Ambode unveils new National Museum

    It was accolades by all and sundry, at the launch of the new National Museum by the government of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on March 6, 2017.

    The event which took place at the Grand Ball Room, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, witnessed the crème of art and culture industry, royal fathers and representatives from the three tiers of government.

    This happened only few weeks after the governor announced his state’s partnership with the federal government to revamp the National Theatre and National Stadium, giving credence to the governor’s campaign promise of Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Sporting Excellence (T.H.E.S.E ).

    In working the talks, many see Ambode as helping in the diversification of the economy and giving life to some of the nation’s heritage in comatose.

    Not only is the National Museum, located in Onikan, Lagos, experiencing a facelift, it is being annexed by a massive multi-purpose edifice and a modern tourism hub.

    According to the governor, it is important not only to revisit the country’s history but to also preserve and protect the history and historical artifacts.

    He said: “In many places, museums are a vital part of the tourism promotion industry, thereby creating economic opportunities for the government and the people. With all these in mind and our strong desire to develop the tourism industry in our state, the Lagos State government has taken the project to revive the museum in Onikan, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, especially with the honourable Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed.”

    He commended stakeholders for their role in promoting and sustaining Nigeria’s heritage through their works, saying; “In this room today, we have the custodians of the Nigerian culture and tradition. We also have other stakeholders and people, who are interested in preserving the heritage of our country. Nigeria is blessed with very rich culture and heritage; this is the foundation on which all our social institutions and interactions are built.”

    Ambode who noted that his government decided to lead the process that will showcase to the world, the priceless treasures of Nigeria, disclosed that the project “will be funded partly by the Lagos State Government and other well-meaning donors, interested organisations and individuals, but will serve the generations of Nigerians now and the future.”

    Continuing, the governor said: “We want to leave the present museum the way it is, to say the story of who we are. Then, the new museum takes you into the future. So, you actually have the price of two for one in the same place. The minister has offered us 6000 square metres of land so that the two can be situated alongside each other.”

    Also speaking at the event, Acting Commissioner/Special Adviser to Ambode on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Adebimpe Akinsola, highlighted some of the contributions of the state to tourism development.

    “The state recently unveiled the statue of King Ado, the first King of Lagos, and the legendary Prince Olofin, the first settler in Lagos. As we speak, the Badagry Heritage Museum is under renovation, the Vlekete Slave Market Museum in Badagry is almost completed, while the Point of No Return Edifice at Gberefu, Badagry, will soon be delivered. All the above-mentioned forms part of the state tourism development projects meant to enrich the experience of visitors and tourists to the state,” she said.

    Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who noted that Lagos is most ready for tourism and creative industry today, announced that the Federal Government is doing all it can to ease visa process for tourists. He said there exists now, a policy of visa on arrival for a category of people, while immigration form has been compressed into about 15 questions only.

    Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe Agbogidi, was also full of praise for the Ambode’s initiative, describing art as life.

    “Big countries,” he said, “patronise art, small countries patronise art. Why can Nigeria not patronise art? People talk about money; go to Ghana, go to Senegal… they’ve got very interesting and functioning artistic institutions that they enjoy and a lot of the world come to their countries. So, why can’t we do that? It’s possible if we can think about it.”

    Earlier, a session on ‘The Museum as a Tool for Driving Tourism, Arts and Culture,’ was moderated by art curator, Bisi Silva, with panelists, including Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, Chief Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery, and Director General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Abdullah Usman.

    According to Shyllon, there is need to develop a positive additude towards the museum, adding that although museum attracts traffic, they are not self-sustaining.

    For Okundaye, Nigeria is big enough to institute a festival with the aim of creating awareness on the treasures in the museum and give the youngsters the opportunity to know about their own culture and tradition.

    On his part, Mallam Usman, is optimistic that the new museum would set the tone for the return of stolen works from Nigeria from around the world. “Each time we make a case for the return of those works back home, the question they always ask us is, ‘where do you want to put them?’ Your Excellency, I thank you for giving us a befitting place to put the works,” he said.

  • Museum celebrates Nigerian heritage

    Museum celebrates Nigerian heritage

    In a bid to pass a message across to Nigerians on the importance of the traditional marriage ceremony and as part of activities to mark its 2015 cultural week, workers of the National Museum, Lagos Island, recently staged a drama to show different traditional marriages.

    The ceremony which held in the museum premise saw almost every member of staff of the museum participating, while family, friends and many dignitaries were in attendance.

    Speaking to The Nation, Miss Nwaenyi Esther who acted as bride for the Igbo traditional marriage during the event said the museum workers have taken it upon themselves to map out a week every year to showcase different cultural practises in Nigeria.

    “We decided to showcase traditional marriage ceremonies in Nigeria this year because Nigerians and Africans in general have thrown away their known traditional marriage ceremony to borrow foreign marriage ceremony which to us is not right.

    “We now hear people divorce anyhow, some do contract marriages, some focus only on court marriage and feel they have wedded,” she said.

    She explained that marriage is the foundation of every family and since Igbo practice extended family system that is predicted on solid lineage and network of families it becomes important that marriage in Igboland must be regarded as one of the pillars of the people’s tradition and culture.

    She called on Nigerians to go back to their various traditional marriage systems.

  • Outreach to enrich less privileged

    Outreach to enrich less privileged

    The National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, means different things to different people. To most Lagosians on the Island, it is a mix-home of antiquities and relaxation spot. But, for some privileged pupils of elite schools, it is a centre to learn about Nigeria’s history and heritage.

    To provide a level playing field for many young ones to learn about their heritage, a team of education officers at the museum, led by Mrs Victoria Okolagu, went on an outreach to schools far away from the museum. Their first destination was the Local Education Council of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area where most schools have not visited the museum in a very long while.

    According to Mrs Okoloagu, the initiative was borne out of the findings that public schools in Lagos State, especially those in the outskirts, rarely visit the museum on excursion. She blamed this on lack of fundsd and distance.

    “But, more importantly, we also found that arts subject in junior secondary school curriculum contains topics on Nok Terra Cotta, Igbo-Uku, Benin Bronze, Ife Bronze, among others which cannot be taught effectively without the material objects which are found in the museum. In tandem with this year’s International Museum Day theme, Museum collections make connections, the team designed the outreach programme. At Ibeju Lekki, there are 11 junior secondary schools and due to logistics, it was difficult to visit all of them. As a result the team visited some schools in the local government area,” she said.

    For four days, the team took an average of 300 pupils of each of the five schools on the educational, economic and social relevance of the artifacts, their origins and the role of the museum in the preservation and promotion of Nigeria’s heritage among others. Objects, such as Igbo-Uku, Benin Bronze (Idia head), Nok terra cotta, Ife bronze, Owo Terra Cotta head, Esie objects and some post cards, were instruction items used during the exercise.

    The schools included Iwereku Community Junior High School, Ibeju Community Junior High School, Debojo Community Junior High School, Magbon Alade Grammar School and Orimedu Community Junior High School.

    According to Okoloagu, “most of the pupils and their teachers did not know about National Museum. Some have heard of it but did not know exactly what goes on there. The outreach was really an eye opener”.

    There are indications that the next local council the team will be visiting soon is the Badagry Local Council Area.