Economy
THE Oyo State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, has called for partnership with the National Museum of Unity, to promote tourism and sustain cultural heritage.
Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, made the call in Ibadan, at a meeting with the new Curator, National Museum of Unity, Mrs Oriyomi Pamel Otuka.
Olatubosun said that the state government had done its best in creating partnership with relevant bodies, to help sustain awareness of the Yoruba heritage.
He said the Ministry would work with the National Museum to retrieve artefacts that were taken from the state, saying that this would also attract investors to the state.
“If the artefacts are well managed, it will help increase our tourism potential and it will be a good source of revenue generation for the state,” the commissioner said.
Earlier, the Curator, National Museum of Unity, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, Mrs Oriyomi Pamel Otuka, urged Nigerians to visit the museum to foster peace in the country.
Otuka said that the museum was put in place in 1976 to foster the Nigerian diverse culture and help Nigerians identify their origin.
She added that the museum has the power to change people’s mind-set, especially during this period when Nigerian culture needed to be salvaged.
Otuka said that the gallery was the first museum of unity in the country.
“It is a specialised museum that tells the story of the rich Nigerian history.
“The museum primarily is used to foster peace among Nigerians, knowing that we have different cultures and backgrounds.
“It also gives us a platform to relate our past with our present. We invite people to visit this place, so that we can learn from our past and for us to maintain peace in the country,” she said.
The curator, therefore, urged people to visit the museum and learn, saying that the staff members have committed themselves to research.
“The museum is a store for our artefacts. It is a store house where valuables are kept for posterity sake,” she said.
In another development, the state government reiterated its resolve to invest hugely in tourism, adding that revenue accruable from it would be committed to enhance other infrastructure in the state.
Mr Oyesola Oyedele, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, made the assertions during a visit of the Body of Permanent Secretaries in the state to the tourists’ Site.
Oyedele said that the state government had promised to drive the state economy through tourism.
The Body had visited Ikere Gorge Dam, located at Iseyin in Iseyin Local Government area and Kunle Afolayan’s Film Village at Komu in Itesiwaju Local Government. (NAN)
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Tags: Oriyomi Pamel Otuka Wasiu Olatubosun
