OAU Students Advise FG To Renovate National Museum, Lagos

By Taiye Baiyeroh

Some students from the Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to renovate the National Museum Lagos to boost tourism and education.

The students from the institution’s Department of Fine and Applied Arts told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, in Lagos that the museum which housed the entire history of the nation was not in proper state.

They said that the vicinity of the museum was disappointing and lacked what it takes to attract local and international tourists.

NAN reports that the 37 students were final year students who had come to gain more knowledge in Ancient African Arts from the museum.

One of the students, Victor Atser, said that the museum which was known as the home of history was not well maintained as it appeared like an ancient building and was long overdue for renovation.

“Actually the vicinity looks unattractive, no wonder we do not have huge patronage from the local and international tourists here like in other countries.”

Another student, Ronke Okusi, said that the museum’s management must work on installing functional air conditioners in all the galleries to sustain the life span of collections there, as the entire place was not conducive.

“Learning will be difficult here for most of primary and secondary school students. If the management cannot afford air conditioners then they should supply fans there for the kids.

“Power outage is another problem here which needs to be solved, ”he said.

Similarly Joseph Idowu said that a National Museum of that repute should be bigger and more spacious for large number of students and tourists.

“The galleries within the museum are too small, we are 37 in number and were splitted ourselves into two groups to be able to comprehend what we were taught,” he said.

Also, Bolarinwa Samuel, the President, Association of the Obafemi Awolowo University Fine and Applied Arts Students, urged government to work tirelessly to renovate the national museum so as to pace up with other international museums.

“We cannot develop the tourism industry without ensuring that our museums are in good shape because for some international tourists, the museum is usually the first place of call.

“The Federal Government should fund the museum properly so that the problem of power outage is resolved along with some other maintenance culture,” he said.

NAN reports that the students lauded knowledge gained at the museum which had to do with Akwanchi Monoliths, Epa mask, Nok Esien and Benin Arts.

They said they had been able to visibly juxtapose the difference between the ancient arts and the contemporary arts which would influence the kind of arts each of them could create. (NAN)