Date: 2013-05-22

IN a major boost towards restoring the country's cultural heritage, the Federal Government has recovered over 60 stolen artefacts from museums in France, Canada, South Africa, Switzerland and United States (U.S.)

This was disclosed Tuesday in Ilorin by the Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman. He added that the nation would continue in its efforts aimed at the total recovery of all its stolen antiquities.

Besides, while pledging prompt upgrade of some national museums centres into professional centres, he said the NCMM would henceforth begin a clampdown on those establishing museums in the country without due processes.

He added that plans have been perfected to employ and deploy only professionals to man various museums in the country.

Usman, represented by the Curator of National Museum, Ilorin, Mrs. Omotayo Adeboye, spoke during the International Museum Day celebration.

He noted: "We have strengthened capacities in preservation, documentation, exhibition, heritage, management and so on. We have improved our bilateral relationships between Nigerian museums and other institutions within and from other parts of the world through collaborations.

"Through international co-operation and understanding, we have been able to repatriate over 60 stolen Nigerian cultural objects from some overseas countries of the Europe and America. We are at the moment in the process of restituting and recovering more from France and the USA who have been very supportive."

The NCMM boss added: "We have the powers to approve a museum, that is privately established and maintained for the purpose of Act of Parliament CAP 242, 2000 and at anytime, withdraw such approval. This reminder has become necessary because it has come to our knowledge that some individuals, organisations, state governments, have been setting up museums without the necessary and statutory supervision, regulation and approval by the NCMM. I call on all concerned to regularise the anomalies by immediately getting in touch with us or have such illegal museums shut down."

Speaking on the theme of the year's celebration: "Museums (memory+creativity)=social change", Adeboye said the richness of the nation's historical heritage, if well preserved and managed, could serve a veritable source of wealth for the country and its people.

She disclosed how she has used the museum in Ilorin to engender a peaceful synergy between it and the people of Ilorin.

According to her, the museum had in the recent past organised skill acquisition workshops for women of their host community.