By Ugochukwu Alaribe

CURATOR of the National Museum for Colonial History, Aba, Abia State, Mr. Theophilus Amadi, has disclosed that the museum hosts the table on which the amalgamation of the former Southern and Northern protectorates of Nigeria was signed by Lord Lugard in 1914.

Amadi stated this in Aba, during a programme, with the theme, “Connecting the Dots” sponsored by the Goethe Institute. He explained that the Aba museum also has other important independence and colonial documents relating to the history of the defunct Eastern region and Nigeria as a nation.

He decried what he described as lack of interest and support for museums by the public and called for a change of attitude.

The curator also decried the lack of interest in Igbo language, warning that the language may go into extinction if nothing serious is done about it.

His words: “It is unfortunate that people don’t show interest in museums, especially in Aba. People only come into the premises of the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba, to eat and drink. They don’t care to visit the gallery and know about things they don’t know and acquire the knowledge they don’t have.

“The National Museum of Colonial History, Aba, is a unique place where you can learn many things and update your knowledge. The museum houses the table on which the amalgamation of the then Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria was signed by Lord Lugard. We also have other well documented history of the nation’s pre-colonial era, colonization of Nigeria, the struggle for Independence, post Independence era. Those who are yet to visit the museum are missing lots of things about their culture, history which they can get from the museum. It is a place for students and researchers.

“Connecting the dot program is a program organized by the Goethe institute in Nigeria. Goethe Institute is a German organization in Nigeria.  The Institute coined the word ‘connecting the dots’, they felt that cultures are being mixed up; people, especially youths, are no longer in tune with their culture.   They no longer appreciate their culture. Some no longer answer their Igbo names and prefer English or foreign names. Why are we no longer proud of our culture? The programme is meant to sensitize people about the need to identify with their culture.

“It is good for us to start from the grassroots to let people know their culture so that it will not be lost. You can see that Igbo language is almost going extinct. Some Igbo children can’t communicate in the language. Many Igbo people can’t speak Igbo. It is a big problem. So, Goethe Institute initiated this program. They are using some museums to test run the program. They are also training youths in creative and vision arts to enable them to be self-reliant and embrace their culture.   “The museum serves the function of gathering people together to learn their history, learn more and make research about what we have in museums.”

The curator urged the government, corporate organizations, individuals and other stakeholders to support the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba, to boost tourism and generate revenue for the nation.

In her remarks, Director Goethe Institute, Nadine Siebert, said the ‘connecting the dot’ programme started in 2023 with six museums from different sections of Nigeria selected for the programme.

She also disclosed that the programme has recorded positive impacts in connecting people to their culture through research and training of youths in creative and visual arts.

Also speaking, the Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr. Olugbile Holloway, stated that the museum is a place for cultural exhibition as well as an educational and research institution and urged Aba residents to patronize the National Museum of Colonial History.

Holloway, who was represented by the Acting Director of museums,   Ezinne Evelyn Osuagwu, also noted that the National Museum for Colonial History, Aba, was upgraded in 2022, but was looted during the EndSars Protest in 2020.

She also disclosed that Nigeria has about 54 museums with over 150 monuments and called on individuals and corporate bodies to partner the government in preserving the museums and monuments.