IMD 2025: Nigeria Celebrates International Museum Day with Call to Action
Oru Leonard
Nigeria joined the global community in celebrating International Museum Day on May 20, 2025.
The event, themed “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,” highlighted the crucial role museums play in preserving cultural heritage, promoting national unity, and fostering community development.
Presenting her address, Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, urged Nigerians to support the Renew Hope Agenda, emphasizing the importance of museums in sustaining cultural heritage and driving economic growth.
The Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mr Olugbile Holloway emphasized that museums are not just repositories of antiquities but living institutions that serve as spaces for learning, dialogue, and cultural continuity.
The NCMM DG stressed the need for museums to adapt to rapidly changing communities, embracing digital innovation, inclusivity, and community engagement to remain relevant and impactful.
Museums play a critical role in preserving indigenous knowledge systems, promoting intercultural dialogue, and fostering national unity.
By showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, museums empower communities through cultural pride and awareness.
In setting agenda for the future the NCMM envisions museums that evolve with their communities, representing the voices of youth, marginalized groups, and the dynamic realities of our times.
In addition the Museums should not just preserve the past but actively shape the future, fostering research, creativity, and resilience in the face of global challenges.
The celebration of International Museum Day in Nigeria serves as a reminder of the importance of museums in promoting cultural heritage, national unity, and community development. As the country looks to the future, it is essential to support the growth and development of museums, ensuring they remain relevant and impactful in rapidly changing communities.
