The Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Prof. Abba Tijjani, has urged Plateau Government to establish a Traditional Institution’s Museum in the state.
Tijjani made the call on Friday when he led his management team on a courtesy visit to Gov. Simon Lalong at the Government House, Jos.
He said that the traditional institution is critical to the preservation of cultural heritage.
According to him, the establishment of such museum will help to showcase Plateau’s rich culture, arts and artefacts.
Tijjani said that the museum would not only showcase palace artefacts but indigenous arts and artefacts from all ethnic groups in the state
He added that Plateau would be the first state to have the traditional institution’s museum if established.
The D-G said his visit was to assess the state of facilities at the National Museum in Plateau.
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” We have the National Museum; the Institute of Archaeology and Museum Studies; the Zoological Garden; and the center for Arts Construction Technology all under the National Commission of Museum and Monuments,” he said.
Tijjani said Plateau currently has three heritage sites in Bokkos Local Government Area, while four potential sites have been identified in the University of Jos, Bokkos, Barkin-ladi and Bassa Local Government Areas.
He said the commission was awaiting the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the declaration of 100 national monuments in the country which would include the four additional sites identified in Plateau.
Tijjani said the sites in the have the potentials to be selected as world heritage sites by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
He said Nigeria has 52 museums and 65 national monuments but that not much is know about their activities due to the poor funding of the commission.
” We have over 100 heritage sites and over 3,000 workforce but are underfunded,” he said.
The D-G said the commission was embarking on a Public Private partnership, to generate funds to discharge its duties diligently, while imploring the government to support it.
He congratulated the governor for the hosting right of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), which he said would serve as a platform for youths to identify with the history of the country, while fostering peaceful coexistence and unity.
Responding, Gov. Lalong said that tourism development was one of his administration’s policy thrust give the fact that Plateau is blessed with conducive weather to attract tourists.
Lalong said his administration was committed to strengthening the traditional institution adding that a Consultative Committee on Constitutional Roles for Traditional Rulers in the North had been inaugurated to include them in governance.
The governor said that tourism sites, which included the museum and the zoo, have created memories on the younger generation and continued to serve as historic sites worthy of preservation.(NAN)