May 18, 2018

The Curator of the  National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Dr Amos Olurunnipa, has  called for public-private partnership in sustaining  museums.

Olurunnipa made the call on Friday at the 2018 International Museum Day celebration organised by the museum.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this year’s theme is ‘Hyper-connected Museums: New Approaches, New Publics.’’

The curator  said to ensure that museums fulfilled their mandates, they  would need the support of stakeholders through  regular visits and support.

Olorunnipa also stressed  the need for  museums  to collaborate with technologists to drive innovation in the sector.

The International Museum Day, he said,  is celebrated annually to expose the public to the cultural wealth in museums as well as  encourage regular visits.

“The day gives the chance for professionals to meet people and inform them about the challenges museums face.

“ This global network of connections becomes more complex each day.

“In the hyperconnected world of today, museums join the trend and  that’s why the theme was chosen,” he said.

The Acting Director-General of the  National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Emeka Onuegbu,  advised curators to key into the digital world of  today’s museums.

He also advised them to find new approaches to make museums more technologically friendly.

Onuegbu, in a message to the occasion,  urged  government and other stakeholders to partner with  the commission and make the dream of building a befitting museum of National Unity in Abuja a reality.

“Such an edifice of national pride will go a long way in placing us in a good stead to move with the rest of the world in the new found hyper-connected direction.

“The museum,  being an integral part of the local community and its environment that we all live in,  has no choice but to follow the current trends,” he said.

The highlight of the event was a  tour of the museum galleries.