CONSERVATION OF ARABIC MANUSCRIPTS – NCMM DG DRUMS FOR COLLABORATION FROM AREWA HOUSE
Oru Leonard
The Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof. Abba Isa Tijani has called for a credible collaboration with Arewa House – A frontline Centre for Research and Historical Documentation of the Ahmadu Bello University, located in Kaduna.
This call which was fervently made during his official visit and engagement at the Centre is for the two institutions to come together with resources and expertise for the preservation, conservation and Cataloguing of Arabic Manuscripts from West Africa and other Historical materials for easier accessibility to researchers and other groups of users.
The Director-General who was received by the Director of the Centre, Dr. Shehu Aliyu solicited the Cooperation of Arewa House as a Centre of Historical documentation to join hands with the Commission and support the Conservation of these precious Historical collections.
Arabic manuscripts from West Africa are a rare collection of Manuscripts dating back to the 19th and 20th Centuries which come mainly from Northern Nigeria, and other parts of Africa like Senegal, Ghana and Mali. They are mostly hand written in Arabic and Ajami scripts and cover a wide range of subjects from Arabic Grammar, History, Theology: Law, Astronomy etc. They represent an excellent example of West African literacy in Arabic.
Prof. Abba Tijani who was accompanied on the visit by Malam Gimba Abdul Mohammed and Abubakar Usman, Ag. Director of Museums and Special Assistant to the Director-General respectively, also visited National Museum, Kaduna on a working visit, where he assured staff of the museum of an improved welfare in the new year. He commended the Curator of the museum, Mr. Elkanah Buckly, his management and the entire staff for keeping a befitting museum environment in kaduna.
The Director-General’s call for credible collaborations however attracted the attention and person of a former Senator of the Federal Republic – Senator Shehu Sani who immediately extended a hand of support by dispatching a solar system provider to the kaduna Facility.
