How absence of national museum in Abuja affect cultural scholarship

Prosper Adoga 20, is currently in his final year as a history student at the University of Abuja. He has always been enthusiastic about African culture and artefacts.

“I am an ardent lover of African culture and artefact. I fear that our generation is gradually drifting from the essence of our Africanity. Nigeria has a rich blend of cultural experiences and heritage and the need to preserve our uniqueness should be our topmost priority” Adoga explained.

For his final year project, Adoga has chosen to delve into the intriguing topic of ‘The analysis of the stone artefacts of the Gbagi people of Abuja.’

However, this endeavour presents a significant challenge due to the scarcity of research museums where these valuable artefacts are adequately preserved. Adoga has been exploring the little museum at the Social Development Department in Garki, but unfortunately, it seems to be deserted and vacant. There is no respite because his university has no museum.

“Abuja has no National Museum and it is so ironic because the Ministry of Museum and Monuments have its secretariat domicile in Abuja. My department has written severally to the ministry on the need to get one, yet nothing has been done about it. Our university has no museum. This has greatly undermined our research as intending African scholars.”

This situation may lead him to consider changing his final-year project topic, as his visits to community heads in Abuja haven’t been very productive. Just like his colleagues at the University of Calabar, who have the Slave History Museum Calabar, Prosper is hopeful that Abuja will have a National museum that will contribute to African scholarship.

Other intending scholars and Tourists like Adoga have had to deal with a lack of precise documentation of the historical artefacts of the Indigenous people of Abuja in museums like in other climes.

There are other privately owned museums like the Nike Art Gallery, Thought Pyramid Museum, and other internal museums that are a far cry from what a standard museum should look like.

Other intending scholars and Tourists like Adoga have had to deal with a lack of precise documentation of the historical artefacts of the Indigenous people of Abuja in befitting national museums like in other climes.

A tourist and photographer who spoke to the Guardian, Ashley Borough, expressed astonishment at the lack of a prominent museum in the capital city of Abuja, considering the immense cultural wealth of Nigeria.

Ashley noted that a city as prominent as Abuja should have a world-class museum that surpasses those found elsewhere in Africa.

She pointed out that cities like New York and Chinatown have museums that propel cultural research. These cities according to her have greatly benefited from the cultural and economic contributions of their museums.

She stated: “I am a YouTube photographer. I have always been fascinated by the richness of Nigerian culture and states like Calabar, Abia and Lagos that I have visited have been very vibrant in culture and museum documentation. Abuja is however different, there is no national museum or a museum close to what a standard museum should be and that is disappointing for a capital city. New York and Chinatown have greatly benefited from earnings from the tourists who visit almost every second. Abuja’s museum should be the best in Africa knowing Nigeria’s history is very rich”

A history teacher and an indigene of Abuja, Sheyilo Gladness disclosed that the Gbagyi were never interested in documenting their history until recently.

She further disclosed that there were plans to create an Indigenous museum but the lack of political will eventually halted the process.

Sheyilo pointed out that with the current burst of urbanization, certain parts of the artefacts of the Indigenous Gbagyi people have been lost forever.

“It is not until recently that we as Gbagyi people realized the need to document our culture. We have been very careless and nonchalant over the years. I studied history at the University of Abuja other students had to change their project topics because of a lack of substantial chronicles. Political Willpower has always been the hindrance to its actual fulfilment. The current urbanization is a huge setback, many of our precious artefacts have been lost. Also, the storytellers with the actual history of our place are already dying with these untold accounts.”

A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka and an Astute Cultural Researcher, Dr. Ikechukwu Erojikwe, noted that history can only be preserved by protecting relics, documentation, and accurate curating.

He further emphasized that the lack of a national museum in Abuja hinders opportunities for African scholarship in the fields of history, anthropology, and cultural studies.

Ikechukwu called on the government to invest in infrastructure and collaborate with scholars and cultural institutions.

He stated: “Abuja is a city with alluring calmness and beautiful grandeur. A government city that has fast grown to a tech and digital hub, an artistic space, and a city with opportunities for tremendous growth. History can only be preserved by protecting relics, documentation, and accurate curating. The place of Museums in any city is to help tell the story from an in-depth and analytical point of view.

“Museums are custodians of history, culture, and art. They play a crucial role in educating the public, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering scholarly research. The lack of museums in Abuja hinders opportunities for African scholarship, particularly in the fields of history, anthropology, and cultural studies, because scholars rely on museums for access to artefacts, historical records, and exhibitions that provide insights into African civilizations, cultures, and historical events.

“The younger generations may grow up without exposure to the historical and cultural narratives that shape their society. It results in the risk of losing traditional knowledge and practices which is already the case with Abuja whose original culture is that of the Gbagyis. The government should take proactive steps to establish museums in Abuja by investing in infrastructures, collaborating with scholars and cultural institutions, encouraging public engagement, and promoting cultural tourism, among others.”

Also, the Artistic Director of Arojah Royal Theatre and Director of Media and Publicity, NANTAP, Jerry Adesewo, disclosed that the challenge could be in establishing publicly accessible museums and promoting their existence and relevance.

In his words: “The absence of museums in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, and so-called ‘one of the most developing city’, definitely has significant implications for African scholarship and cultural preservation. I guess the challenge could be in establishing publicly accessible museums and promoting their existence and relevance.”

The Director General, National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Mr Olugbile Holloway reacting to the issues raised revealed that there is a master plan that has already been put together by past administrations.

Holloway hinted that the nonexistence of a national museum in Abuja is due to a lack of political will and this may have hindered previous administrations from constructing a fully equipped museum.

He stated that his administration is determined and dedicated to the construction of a fitting national museum for Abuja.

“Abuja is long overdue for a befitting national museum. We’re prioritizing it at the NCMM. My administration as the current DG is already driving the project, with active conversations regarding funding and land allocation.

“The lack of political will may have hindered the project in the past, but there are ongoing plans by my administration and the honourable minister. There is a master plan already for a museum efforts are being made to review and potentially scale down the master plan to ensure its feasibility and successful implementation,” he said.