The Curator, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Dr Amos Olorunnipa, has said that the museum, in 2019, impacted on its immediate environment through effective discharge of its statutory functions to the society and clientele.
Olurunnipa made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ibadan.
He said the museum’s functionality spread across the months in the year to follow and observe regular and special observances.
Olorunnipa said that the museum held exhibition of arts and crafts, where art collectors and contemporary artists had the opportunity to display their wares.
He added that the exhibition was aimed at complimenting the museum’s permanent exhibitions, as it involved over 15 selected museums in the country shortlisted to participate and/or organise platforms for the national outlook.
The curator said that the museum also engaged in a line of productive collaborations with sister agencies and relevant stakeholders in pursuance of its cardinal goals.
“The museum participated in the civil service week and played major roles. We also organised the 10th edition of the music and dance carnival for the physically-challenged people.
“We have a museum journal ‘Heritscope’, for museum professionals and this is a plus in the annals of national museum of unity, Ibadan. The observance of our bi-weekly seminar by members of staff has also been a sure way of ensuring manpower development.
“We also organised capacity building and skill acquisition programmes for our staffers and members of the public in the making of home-made goods like detergents, liquid soaps, catering and hat making, among others, all of which were aimed at ensuring self- development and empowerment.
“Also, statistics showed that a sizeable portion of the society visited the museum owing to the enlarged awareness and publicity gained through organised the agenda setting of the media,” he said.
Olorunnipa added that the museum featured on radio stations to intimate the public on the role of culture and the importance of museums in the development of the society.
“As part of its role in monitoring and encouraging the formation and registration of private museums in the country, we have assisted and put our professional touch to the opening of an ultra-modern palace and the inauguration of the Ode-Remo community museum.
“The annual Antiquity Protection Day was held as an outreach at the ancient Foko palace in Ibadan, where Oba Eddy Oyewole spoke on the need to turn the palace into a community museum.
“All these and more are our achievements in 2019. We hope to do more in 2020 if we have adequate funds, support and collaborations by relevant stakeholders and the government at all levels,” he said.
