We are using technologies to bring the museum presence to your immediate environment… Tijani
Oru Leonard
The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), on Tuesday 15th of June 2021, celebrated the year 2021 International Museum day with pump and pegentry àt the Federal capital territory Anuja.
According the Director General of NCMM, Professor Abba Isa Tijani the event which was earlier scheduled for 18th May was postponed and rescheduled due to the re-introduced phase IV Covid 19 restrictions at the time, which limited the number of persons in public gatherings across the 36 states and the FCT.
Tijani noted that NCMM has been achieving great success in its repatriation drive. It was recently in the news how Nigeria successfully argued her case and brought back a 600 years old Ife terracotta from the Netherlands. In March, the University of Aberdeen after a year of discussions agreed to return an important Benin bronze to Nigeria.
He disclosed that a few weeks ago, an Ife Bronze, was brought back from Mexico and discussion is ongoing arguing before an international mediation panel for the return of an Ife bronze head valued at Five Million Dollars.
“This Ife head was seized in London from a Belgian and is part of eight other important antiquities stolen in a burglary that happened in National Museum Jos in 1987. Success in this case may ultimately lead to the discovery and recovery of the other antiquities of the set stolen during that burglary episode.
“We have also picked a date for the return of very important antiquities from the Metropolitan Museum in the United States. A decade ago, we argued for the return of a major Ife head brought to this museum by Gallery Walu of Switzerland. We were successful”, he expressed.
He said the concerted efforts of NCMM has led to further considerations of Nigerian issues culminating in the return of another antiquity as awaited this year.
Cross section of dignitaries
On digitalisation of NCMM, he said,
“The future is digital. We also connect our past with the future by imbibing practices that are taking root around the world. This is utilizing the benefit of technology to aid dissemination of museum activities. Towards this, the NCMM museums, like major museums in the world, have turned to virtual and augmented realities. This is using the internet and other technologies to bring the museum presence to your immediate environment. Now from the comfort of your homes, you can move around Nigerian museums. We have signed a pay-per-click MoU with Diasfund whereby you can have the use of digital images of Nigerian museum objects on www.saveafricanhistory.org.
He revealed that another MoU was signed with Opinow Media which permits viewers to take a walk of Nigerian museums in the comfort of your bedroom. And the MoU with DreamHivesentails a 3D experience of Nigerian museumsand heritage sites.
“Our museums and their stories are now constantly relayed to the world audience via the zoom platform conducted through www.museumsvirtualfriends.com.ng by virtue of our agreement with Active Projectile Limited.
“These methods of reaching out will not only sell Nigeria Museums to the whole world; they are for the time being means of minimizing physical visits to museums as a way of combating the COVID-19 pandemic”, he said.
However, the NCMM Boss advocated for the need for a physical museum in Abuja and noted that Nigeria remains the only major country in the world without a National Museum in its capital city.
“We thus use the opportunity the event of today affords and the gathering of this galaxy of esteemed personalities to re-present this issue and seek that they recommit themselves to working towards giving the NCMM a stand-alone building to serve as national museum and offices for the NCMM” Prof Tijani pleaded.
High points of today’s events include, a Public Lecture, Cultural performances, A book Presentation/Launching and presentation of Cultural Ambassador canAwards to Eleven deserving Nigerians from various walks of life.
The event had in attendance Top Dignitaries, Government Officials, Traditional Rulers, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Culture Enthusiasts and Members of the Media.
