CRIMMD Library and Museum is a place that leaves a lasting impression, not because it is flashy or filled with interactive displays, but because it makes you see ordinary things and the past in a new way.
I expected shelves of old books and rows of dusty artefacts. Instead, I found stories hidden inside everyday objects that many Nigerians once used without a second thought. As I moved from room to room, it felt less like visiting a museum and more like stepping into different moments in Nigeria’s history.
The museum is organised into themed rooms covering politics, communication, trade, culture, education and everyday life. Whether you’re a student, journalist, researcher or simply curious about Nigeria’s past, there’s something here that will capture your attention.
CRIMMD museum collection is the life’s work of Dr Raphael James, whose dedication to preserving Nigeria’s history is evident throughout the museum. Established on October 1, 2012, as a unit of CRIMMD, it has grown into a significant historical archive with more than 60,000 photographs and thousands of artefacts documenting Nigeria from the pre-colonial era to the present.
One of the first things that caught my attention were the gramophone and radiogram at the entrance. They immediately set the tone, recalling a time when families gathered around music instead of television screens and smartphones.
Nearby is a vintage Nordmende radio that belonged to Pa David Akinyele, a teacher and veteran of the West African Frontier Force during the Second World War. After his death, his son, the late Chief Sir Alex Akinyele, donated it to the museum, giving the display a deeply personal story.
The library itself is easy to lose yourself in. Its shelves hold biographies of notable Nigerians, newspapers dating back to 1922, government publications, journals, speeches and books on politics, military history and the Nigerian Civil War. You can walk in intending to browse one shelf and end up spending far longer than expected.
One room highlights Nigeria’s cultural heritage through hunters’ clothing, calabashes and the preserved skin of a python, while another recreates the Langa-Langa train derailment in present-day Nasarawa State on February 16, 1970, one of the country’s worst railway disasters. Though modest in size, the display preserves a difficult chapter of Nigeria’s history.
One of my favourite sections displayed different generations of water cans alongside bottles from different periods, including Ragolis, recognised as one of Nigeria’s earliest bottled water brands. It was a reminder that everyday objects quietly become historical records with time.
As you climb the stairs, framed photographs of Dr James with academics, writers, public officials and cultural figures reflect both his life’s work and the museum’s growing influence.
A room is filled with household items familiar to many Nigerians from their parents’ or grandparents’ homes. Nearby, the bottle room houses more than 400 Nigerian beverage bottles dating back to the 1950s, including the first Coca-Cola bottle sold in Nigeria alongside old beer and soft drink bottles from brands that have disappeared. Together, they tell the story of changing tastes, businesses and everyday life.
CRIMMD museum also traces the history of money before the naira. Cowries, manillas, beads, salt and feathers once served as currency, while coins and banknotes dating back to 1910 document the country’s monetary evolution before and after the West African Currency Board.
Another room contains books, photographs, Biafran currency and original currency containers from the Nigerian Civil War, encouraging visitors to reflect on one of the nation’s most painful periods.
The history of Nigeria’s postal service is equally impressive. Beginning with the first post office in Lagos in 1851 and the first Queen Victoria postage stamps in 1874, the collection includes every Nigerian postage stamp issued since independence in 1960, showing how people communicated long before the digital age.
The communication room was another highlight. Old television sets, fixed-line telephones, radiograms, Polaroid and twin-lens reflex cameras, early video equipment and more than 30 mobile phones, including the iconic Nokia 3310, illustrate the rapid evolution of communication technology.
Entertainment history also has its place. Film reels, music cassettes, compact discs and more than 3,000 vinyl records document the changing sounds of Nigeria across generations. Traditional fabrics from different parts of the country further demonstrate that history is preserved not only in documents but also in textiles and craftsmanship.
When I left, I wasn’t thinking about one particular artefact. I kept thinking about the people who had once used these objects in their everyday lives. Someone listened to that radio. Someone carried water in those cans. Someone posted a letter using those stamps. Those ordinary moments have now become part of Nigeria’s collective memory.
For journalists, the museum offers valuable historical context. Researchers and students will find both the museum and library invaluable, while schools regularly visit on educational excursions that bring history beyond the classroom. Families, too, can enjoy comparing memories across generations.
The museum’s influence extends beyond its walls through partnerships with cultural and educational institutions, including the Goethe-Institut, the Arab Culture and Arts Network (ACAN), the British Museum and universities in the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2024, one of its special exhibitions at the National Museum, Onikan, attracted more than 1,000 visitors, reflecting growing interest in preserving Nigeria’s heritage.
Admission costs ₦10,000 for adults and ₦5,000 for children. Considering the depth of its collection, it is well worth the price.
