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.

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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.

In the first institutional return of its kind, Jesus College is to return a Benin Bronze to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments on Wednesday 27 October. Delegates from the Commission and Benin will visit Jesus College for a ceremony to complete the handover process and celebrate the rightful return of the Bronze.

His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II said: “We are indeed very pleased and commend Jesus College for taking this lead in making restitution for the plunder that occurred in Benin in 1897.

“We truly hope that others will expedite the return of our artworks which in many cases are of religious importance to us. We wish to thank our President Buhari and our National Commission for Museums and Monuments for their renewed efforts in securing the release of our artefacts on our behalf.

“Finally, we wish to thank the student body of Cambridge University for bringing to light the historical significance of this revered piece of the Royal Court of Benin. It is worthy of note that our father attended Cambridge University but was then Prince Solomon Akenzua. He later ascended the throne of our forefathers as Omo N’Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin.”

Ms Sonita Alleyne OBE, Master of Jesus College, said: “This is an historic moment. We look forward to welcoming representatives from Nigeria and Benin to the handover ceremony and to celebrating the return of this Bronze.

“This is the right thing to do out of respect for the unique heritage and history of this artefact.

“Since we took the decision to return the Bronze following the College’s Legacy of Slavery Working Party’s (LSWP) extensive research, many organisations have followed in our footsteps. I would like to thank the LSWP for its diligent and careful investigation into the provenance of the Bronze, to the Fellows for their keen support for its restitution, and to our students who pioneered early calls for this.”

In May 2019, Jesus College set up its Legacy of Slavery Working Party – comprising Fellows, staff and student representatives – to explore the historical, legal and moral status of the College’s ownership of the Bronze. They examined evidence showing that the statue was looted directly from the Court of Benin, as part of the punitive British expedition of 1897, and was given to the College in 1905 by the father of a student.

In November 2019, Jesus College became the first institution in the world to announce its decision to return a Benin Bronze.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, said: “We thank Jesus College for being a trailblazer and we look forward to a similar return of our artefacts by other institutions that are in possession of them.”

Professor Abba Isa Tijani, the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria, said: “This return offers new hope for amicable resolution in cultural property ownership disputes. We hope that it will set a precedent for others around the world who are still doubtful of this new evolving approach whereby nations and institutions agree with source nations on return without rancour.

“On our part, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments is receiving this antiquity for the benefit of the Benin people and the people of Nigeria.”

Culled from The Guardian News

The Executive Governor of Edo State, H.E Mr. Godwin Obaseki made this pledge while receiving an NCMM delegation, led by the Director-General – Prof. Abba Isa TIJANI in his Office at the Edo State Govt House in Benin.

The Director-General who was on an official tour of museums and facilities in Benin and Asaba paid a courtesy call on the Governor and spent quality time with him discussing their shared vision of actualizing an economic rebirth of Benin City as a hub of Cultural tourism in Nigeria, and West Africa.

Governor Obaseki who was full of admiration for the Director-General expressed delight for the Director-General’s good works and positive strides since his assumption of office. He was particularly excited at the DG’s assurance of NCMM’s unflinching support for the establishment of the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts. (EMOWAA) – a new museum to be built in Benin City as a result of various deliberations of the Benin dialogue group which consists of participants from the Benin Palace, Edo State Government, the NCMM, and other leading European Museums. EMOWAA, is projected to be a world-class museum in the heart of Benin City that can house and showcase returning and existing Benin Bronzes and other important cultural items from across West Africa.

Prof. Tijani assured the Governor of NCMM’s readiness to support the EMOWAA project and proposed an architectural concept that fuses together, both the existing and emerging museums in a way to complement one another. He posited the concept of a museum that will reflect a perfect cultural complex and tourist destination that will enrich visitor experience to the fullest.
Governor Godwin Obaseki who was excited and pleased with the Director- General’s pronouncements pledged his unwaivering support for programmes and activities of the Commission in Benin.

Prof. Tijani was accompanied on the visit by top Officials of the NCMM, amongst whom are:
Mal. Abdul Mohammed Gimba- Ag. Director of Museums, Barr. Babatunde Adebiyi – Legal Adviser, Mr. Ben Ogbeide – DD Finance & Accounts, Mr. Theophilus Umogbai – Curator, Benin Museum, Mal. Abubakar Usman – SA to the DG, Mr. Dapo Sijuade – Head, PRUnit, and the DG’s Personal Assistant – Mr. Abdulahi Dannabe Mohammed.