Wednesday, 11th day of May, 2022 was a remarkable day in Owerri as National Museum Owerri celebrated International Day of Monuments and Sites which was marked globally on the 18th of April.

The Celebration started with a visit to Nworie Stream (isi mmiri Nworie), a Heritage Site in Owerri, Imo State. Nworie stream is the source of domestic water to the Owerri people, home to rare aquatic life and flora.

On arrival at the site, the custodian of the site (Nworie Priest) conducted the group made up of the Curator, Management and staff of the Museum, the chairman of the occasion, the guest lecturer, students of the tertiary Institution and other guests on tour of the Site. He explained that Nworie river has its source in Owerri, flows through River State and eventually emptied its contents in the Atlantic Ocean.

According to him, the goddess of the stream is a peaceful entity but punishes those who disobey the rules of the stream. women for instance, are not allowed to visit the stream on Orie market day and when they are on their menstrual period.

He further said that Urashi river (the male counterpart of Nworie) from Rivers State visits Nworie every seven years to renew their conjugal vow.

After the tour, the guests came back to the

Museum, venue of the celebration, where   lecture on the theme of the year’s celebration: Heritage and Climate was presented by Dr Sir Uche Opara, a lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies,

Alvan Ikowu Federal College of Education, Owerri.

Dr. Opara took time to explain the concept of climate, heritage, their relationship to Monuments and sites; and benefits to humanity.

Earlier in the day, the address of Prof. Abba Isa Tijani, Director General NCMM was read by the Curator, Mrs Carol Agbamuche.

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief (Sir) Innocent Igwe, former Chairman NUJ, Imo State commended the Commission for maintaining the Monuments and Sites in the country and encouraged the guests to take time out to visit a site.

In order to have a successful International Museum Day celebration as it is in our culture in Jos Museum. The Afizere Nation is our culture of focus for 2022 IMD celebration.it may interest you to know that Afizere people are found in Jos East, Jos North, Mangu local government areas of Plateau state and part of Bauchi state.

The Curator Mr. Fadamijo Omolayo led members of the planning committee to the palace of the Agwom Izere on a courtesy call, they were received on arrival together with his council of elders after which he paid a courtesy call to the chairmen of Jos East and Jos North where the Afizere people are found in large number to solicit for their support in areas of logistics.

Oòni Warmly Receives New Ife Museum Acting Curator
The new Acting Curator of National Museum Ile-Ife, Mr. D. N. Ogunmola, was today warmly received by the Oòni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Alayeluwa Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

It was an homecoming event for the Ag. Curator and he used the opportunity to seek the revered monarch’s blessing and support for a successful administration. The Oòni who was happy to know that the new Ag. Curator is familiar with the terrain, welcomed him with a specially composed song, heartily prayed for his success and equally pledged his support for the new administration. The Monarch also eulogized the Director-General for his efforts and pragmatic approach in transforming NCMM since he assumed the leadership position.

In company of the Ag. Curator were members of his management team, Prof. Ogunfolakan (Director, Natural History Museum, OAU, Ile-Ife) and some other staff of National Museum Ile-Ife.

Photo Story

US Ambassador to Nigeria on a courtesy visit to National Museum Lagos, to tour the recently opened THE ANCIENT ROCK ART OF NIGERIA

Recall, National War Museum, Umuahia is one of its kind in Africa and has some unique features. It is saddled with the responsibility of preserving the War Relics of Nigerian Civil War and other Traditional warfare. It is also a center for Research into Military Science and Technology as well as center for Peace and Conflict Resolutions

“A people without the knowledge of their History, Origin and Culture is like a tree without root” preserving and sustaining our history through verifiable facts is duty bound on Museum.

Based on the above, Nigerian Navy College of Accounts and Finance Owerri Nta, Abia State Student Officers Course Batch 32 visited National War Museum, Umuahia on 11th May, 2022. The College is a premier institution responsible for training Officers in the Accounts and Budget branch of Nigerian Navy. As part of the training Curriculum, the Student Officers visit to the Museum was eventful and remarkable. The visit further broadened their knowledge on the History of Nigerian Civil War and its implications.

The leader of the Team, Lt. Commander S.A. Lawani sincerely thanked and appreciated the Curator, Management and Staff of NWM, Umuahia for their continues hospitality and enormous contributions to the students, that the educational visit has indeed enriched the officer’s appreciation of economic implications of war

THE ANCIENT ROCK ART OF NIGERIA:
A TRAVELING EXHIBITION LAGOS, CALABAR & ZARIA

It was a delightful day on the 5th May, 2022. At National Museum Lagos, as National Commission For Museums and Monuments opened ” THE ANCIENT ROCK ART OF NIGERIA EXHIBITION.

The Director General Prof Abba Issa Tijani in his address appreciated the effort and commitment by the NCMM, US EMBASSY, AND TARA ( Trust For African Rock Art), towards the achievement of such a wonderful and well structured exhibition.

According to the Director General, there is nothing that can take the place of history, tradition and culture of the people. Today the monolith displayed in this exhibition is a major part of Nigeria’s history, therefore as stakeholders he urged everyone to help to promote Nigeria’s image in a positive light through our great heritage.

The Director General informed the dignitaries that his office is open to creative and positive ideas for the development of our Museums.

Dignitaries at the event; Mr. Brandon Hudspeth, acting U.S. Consul General, Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice chancellor Ahmadu Bello University. David Coulson, Executive Chairman TARA, Terry Little, ABU Zaria, Dr. Sule Abubakar, ABU Zaria, Prof. Celement Bakinde, ABU Zaria,

He thanked the Us embassy for their continued support while he appealed that there are more projects to be done if Nigeria must have a world standard Museum.

From NCMM: Prof. Abba Issa Tijani, Director General NCMM, Mr. Mohammed Gimba, Director of Museums, Miss Victoria Osuagwu, Director MHS, Mrs, Adeboye.O.M, DEST/ Curator National Museum Lagos.

The Director General Professor Aba Isa Tijani during his assumption of office as DG of the commission, had promised to vigorously pursue the emergence of an enviable museum system in Nigeria that will become the pride of African continent, and also to assist in developing cultural identity and promote national Unity, the Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture (MOTNA) is one of the earliest Museum identified because of it’s location, content and context that will showcase the best of our nation’s history and culture to the wildest possible audience and captivate visitors with the replicas of ancestral traditional architecture of different ethnic nationalities from the six regions of Nigeria for the purpose of educational, research and tourism.

It is inline with the above that the Curator of MOTNA Rahina Garba Haruna (Mrs.), Management and members of staff on Saturday 23rd April, 2022, in collaboration with the TAROK ETHNIC NATIONALITY on the Plateau gathered to grace an event for the unveiling of model of the TAROK TRADITIONAL COMPOUND and foundation laying at MOTNA.

The dignitaries from Tarok nation and MOTNA who were in attendance include:

1. The Acting Ponzhi-Tarok-HRH. Nimnan Langnim and all the traditional rulers of Tarok nation
2. Rev. Canon Selcan Miner- Petron Elders Forum
3. Air Marshal Wuyep- Vice chairman Tarok Elders Forum
4. Amb. Timothy Sheni- President NIO
5. Mrs. Rahina Garba. Haruna- Curator MOTNA
6. Architect Cephas Lar- Chairman Tarok Compound building committee.

Above is the MUPUN ethnic nationality from Plateau State on site at MOTNA.

Above is the Afizere ethnic nationality from Plateau in Jos East LGA traditional compound. Work in progress.

Above is the MBULA ethnic nationality from Southern Adamawa State in Demsa local government area on site at MOTNA.

In preparation for 2022 International Museum Day Celebration and inorder to ensure adequate security,the Curator of National Museum Jos Mr Fadamijo Omolayo led members of the festival committee to the office of the commissioner of police plateau state command Cp B Onyeka and we’re received on arrival by the CP and top management of the command.
The commissioner promise to support the museum in areas of security and promise to be in attendance.below are pictorial coverage:

In a similar vain ,the curator Mr Fadamijo Omolayo together with members of the festival committee were at the office of the commander Nigeria Civil Defense Corp to solicit for his usual cooperation and to ensure adequate sucurity.The Curator and his team were received on arrival by the commandant Alexander Bissa Burunde together with other management of the Jos command.the commandant express his delight to the curator for always extending the hands of friendship and promise to provide the needed security and ensure a hitch free celebration.The chairperson of the committee Mrs Bolcit Byanyiko buttressing a point to the commandant.

The gallery of National Museum Jos was recently upgraded to wear a new look. The new exhibition with the themed: “TREASURES FROM EARLY CIVILIZATION” seeks to explore the traditional and rich cultural expressions of Nigerians. It equally explores a commonality and yet uniqueness in Agriculture, Trade and Commerce; Warfare, Power and Authority; music and Dance; Masks and Masquerade performances; and it also speaks eloquently of rituals, splendor and beauty of their social institutions.

TREASURES FROM EARLY CIVILIZATION

Nigeria has produced a great variety of art traditions, and her size, diverse geography and people have contributed to the richness of her civilization. Nigeria is a political grouping of different peoples who have their own artistic styles. Nevertheless, there are some common underlying philosophical and psychological basis providing a common root for early Nigeria art tradition. In context, the works address life cycle and a comprehensive system of belief of the people.

This exhibition illustrates, with examples the different types of Nigeria sculptures in terracotta, metal, stone, wood and Ivory; contextualizing their relevance to the day to day use amongst the people.On display in this exhibition are objects from earliest known works of some two thousand years ago, and ends with materials from the ethnographic present.

This exhibition with the theme “Treasures from early Civilization” seeks to explore the traditional and rich cultural expressions of Nigerians. It equally explores a commonality and yet uniqueness in Agriculture, Trade and Commerce; Warfare, Power and Authority; music and Dance; Masks and Masquerade performances; and it also speaks eloquently of rituals, splendor and beauty of their social institutions.