When Kaduna marked museum day

The National Museum, Kaduna, showcased Nigeria’s cultural heritage  to mark the International Museum Day on May 22. There were cultural displays , dance and art by schools, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the Arewa House. The Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Abdulkarim Kadiri said, “The strength of museums lies in the […]

The National Museum, Kaduna, showcased Nigeria’s cultural heritage  to mark the International Museum Day on May 22.

There were cultural displays , dance and art by schools, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the Arewa House.

The Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Abdulkarim Kadiri said, “The strength of museums lies in the richness of culture and history duly passed on to us by our forefathers, preserved, well documented and exhibited by museums, for the generality of the public.”

Kadiri who was represented by the Curator, National Museum, Kaduna, Alhaji Gimba Mohammed, said, “Going by the theme of the day ‘Museums as a Cultural Hub: The Future of Tradition’, museums should be seen as a central bank for cultural properties and central point of cultural activities where cultural heritage is projected and enjoyed.”

He said, “The objects in the museums tell the stories of the pluralist cultures of the peoples of the world and of their natural heritage. The skills, inventiveness, and creativity of mankind are all evident in the material culture of the people.”

He solicited for a more concerted effort by government, stakeholders towards making the museum service in Nigeria comparable to those elsewhere in the world. While assuring that the various challenges the institution is facing can be surmounted if adequate commitment is demonstrated, he said, “For any meaningful development in any nation, the people must know their past and present in order to properly plan for the future.”

Dr. Shuaibu Aliyu, of the Ahmadu Bello University in his paper said  parents need to imbibe cultural knowledge in their children, saying,  “In Nigeria today, many families do not know their culture because when they were children, they only spoke English in their homes which they have passed down to their own children.”

He urged Nigerians to,  as a matter of urgency, preserve their culture so that it does not go extinct.