Why Nigeria Need a Proliferation of Modern Museums Across the Country

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As a proponent and advocate for culture, tradition, and tourism in Nigeria, I am particularly pleased that the much-anticipated Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Edo State, is poised to open its doors in November 2025. For me, MOWAA transcends the conventional notion of a museum, embodying a significant return to one’s roots. This modern institution, focused on preserving, studying, and showcasing the rich cultural heritage and artistic achievements of the Benin Kingdom and West Africa, marks an important change in how Nigeria values and shares its history with the world.

MOWAA is definitely a decisive step in reclaiming our narrative and honouring the richness of our heritage; it stands as a testament to our people’s resilience and enduring ingenuity. This is a milestone that shouldn’t just be a one-time event; it should spark a larger discussion and vision for Nigeria that openly addresses its whole history, including both its achievements and its struggles, with bravery, commitment, and honesty. We need a fundamental proliferation of modern, world-class museums across the nation’s geographical and thematic expanse to relive and showcase past experiences.

Beyond Benin: A Holistic National Museum Strategy

Indeed, a modern nation cannot thrive by selectively celebrating only the most comfortable parts of its history. Understanding and shared acknowledgement of a complete and nuanced past forge true national unity. Our current infrastructure of historical institutions in Nigeria is inadequate. Many institutions are suffering from neglect, employing inexperienced curators, using outdated exhibition methodologies, and lacking thematic representation of crucial national experiences.

Those narratives are about to change with the model MOWAA is setting, one of high scholarship, world-class architectural design, community engagement, and technological advancement. MOWAA should be the blueprint, not the exception. Let this model of cultural reclamation serve as inspiration for a nationwide network of museums, each dedicated to telling a unique chapter of our story. Our historical documentation should encompass the vast landscapes of our pre-colonial empires, resistance movements, colonial exploitation, internal conflict, and the vibrant, complex culture that persists to this day.

 

Confronting the Legacy of the Slave Trades: Sites of Remembrance

Having witnessed how Nigerian history is preserved and presented, I must point out a significant weakness in our national narrative: one of the main stories is the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. This is another history too often absent from our classrooms, and it demands urgent, dedicated institutional stewardship.

My strong recommendation regarding this sensitive topic is to build upon the MOWAA initiative by establishing Museums of Memory in the historically significant locations of Cross River (Calabar), Bonny Island, and Opobo, in Rivers State, which are towns deeply involved in the slave trade. These town names are more than just names in a textbook; they represent sacred spaces where innumerable lives underwent irreversible transformation. We must transform them from simple historical annotations into revered spaces for learning and reflection.

A modern museum in these locales must do more than display shackles. It needs to provide a rigorous, unflinching account of the economic systems, the complex local dynamics of complicity and resistance, the brutality of the Middle Passage, and the enduring legacy felt across the African diaspora. If done correctly, these institutions will become essential venues for both national and international visitors to confront a painful past and commit to a future built on the foundational values of empathy and human dignity.

It is also essential to incorporate Sokoto State into the discussion of the documentation regarding the significant yet frequently overlooked Trans-Saharan Slave Trade. This account significantly influenced the social, political, and economic structure of northern Nigeria, linking it to an extensive network that extended across the Sahara to North Africa and the Middle East. Incorporating Sokoto will undoubtedly fulfil a long-ignored, yet essential, aspect of our national narrative, promoting a comprehensive understanding of historical exploitation throughout all regions of Nigeria.

The necessity of documenting these challenging narratives is not to dwell in the past, but to extract valuable insights from them. By teaching future generations about the duality of human brutality and resilience, we may protect ourselves from division and build a future based on truth and shared humanity.

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Honouring the Cost of Conflict: The Civil War Museum

The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) is another pivotal chapter in twentieth-century Nigerian history that demands a dedicated, state-of-the-art institution. The existing war documentation efforts, while valuable, often lack the comprehensive, multi-perspectival approach necessary for national healing and learning.

A modern National Civil War Museum in Abia State, situated at the heart of the conflict, would be a vital national monument. This museum should not be a place for political parties to celebrate; it should be a place for serious thought. It must meticulously document the causes, the horrific human cost on all sides, the international context, and the long road to reconciliation and reintegration. Exhibitions must utilise oral histories, photographs, personal artefacts, and scholarly research to present a truthful and deeply moving account.

The museum’s primary lesson must be the cost of disunity and the invaluable nature of peace. It would ensure we never forget this pivotal chapter, transforming memory into a mechanism for strengthening our collective resolve to maintain a single, united, and peaceful Nigeria.

 

The Economic and Social Power of Museums

The proliferation of these institutions, from MOWAA in Edo to the remembrance sites in Calabar, Rivers, and Sokoto and the war museum in Abia, is not merely an exercise in cultural altruism; it is a strategic national investment with massive socio-economic returns.

 

Driving Sustainable Tourism and Economic Diversification

Modern, well-funded museums are powerful anchors for tourism. They create jobs, stimulate local economies (including hospitality, transport, and local crafts), and diversify Nigeria’s revenue streams away from an absolute reliance on oil. International visitors are increasingly seeking deep, authentic, and educational cultural experiences. A network of world-class museums showcasing Nigeria’s unique history, from the artistic genius of Benin to the architectural wonders of Kano and the distinct rainforest cultures of the Southeast, will position Nigeria as a premier global destination.

 

Fostering National Identity and Educational Excellence

Museums are crucial educational institutions. They offer experiential learning that transcends textbooks, bringing abstract historical events to vivid life. By presenting a shared, documented national history, they can break down regional silos and foster a stronger, more inclusive They foster sense of Nigerian identity among young people. They become safe spaces for difficult conversations, helping citizens process collective trauma and appreciate the diverse contributions of all ethnic groups.

 

Protecting and Repatriating Heritage

By establishing modern, professionally managed institutions, Nigeria strengthens its case for the repatriation of stolen artefacts held abroad. Repatriating objects like the Benin Bronzes requires not just political will but also the physical and professional capacity to care for them. MOWAA is setting this standard, and its success is a powerful argument for global partners to return other pieces of Nigeria’s scattered heritage to its rightful home. The new museums we propose would be designated custodians for future repatriations relevant to their specific themes (e.g., historical documents relating to the slave trade).

 

The Path Forward: A Call to Action

Nigeria’s history is a testament to glorious kingdoms, profound suffering, and an unbreakable spirit. It’s time we build museums that reflect the whole, complex story, not just for the world, but for ourselves as well.

Achieving this vision requires a concerted effort from the government, the private sector, and the Nigerian diaspora:

• Establish a National Museum Endowment Fund: This fund, supported by public and private contributions, would ensure the financial sustainability, professional operation, and necessary conservation work for all new and existing museums.
• Invest in human capital: we must prioritise training a new generation of Nigerian museologists, curators, conservators, and archival specialists who can manage these world-class institutions with integrity and scholarly rigour.
• Embrace Digital Integration: All new museums must be built with digital capabilities, offering virtual tours, online archives, and interactive exhibits to reach a broader audience, including the vast Nigerian diaspora.

The opening of MOWAA is a beacon of what is possible. Let’s seize this momentum and embark on a nationwide project to document, honour, and learn about our entire history. Only by confronting the entirety of our past, in dedicated spaces of learning and remembrance across the nation, can we truly build a future rooted in truth, empathy, and unity for all Nigerians. Nigeria deserves a museum infrastructure that reflects the richness, resilience, and complexity of its over 200 million people.