The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, on Wednesday, urged Nigerians to patronise the country’s national monuments to appreciate the sacrifices of its past leaders.

Abubakar gave the charge at the opening of an exhibition and official re_inauguration of the Gen. Murtala Muhammed Gallery at National Museum, Onikan in Lagos.

“The Gallery Nigerian Government, ‘Yesterday and Today’ is aimed at chronicling the political history of Nigeria from pre-colonial to the present dispensation.

“It will also keep every Nigerian informed about the various developmental phases of the nation,” he said.
Abubakar expressed regrets that the Murtala Muhammed Gallery had been abandoned for some years and commended the NCMM for resuscitating it.

He said that the pottery exhibition was to showcase the richness of our culture as well as educate Nigerians about our pottery.

The minister noted that pottery and its associate objects were vital domestic items used in virtually all geo_cultural zones of the nation for aesthetic, storage and cooking purposes.

“Its important in our daily lives and cannot be over_emphasized as it significantly indigenous culture art forms in Nigeria,” he added.

Malam Yusuf Usman, Director_General, National Commission for Museum and Monument, said that exhibition was developed to encourage our society to appreciate indigenous traditional art forms.

Usman said that the exhibition was also to recognise the important landmarks in the nation’s history.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Murtala Muhammed gallery contains portraits of the country’s past and present heroes, as well as the car in which late Head of State was assassinated in 1976.