NAN-H-53
Tourists
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos, Nov. 17, 2016 (NAN) Mr Tunde Omotosho, Head of Education Department, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Lagos, says 6,759 tourists visited the museums between July and September 2016.
Omotosho made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
He said that the number increased with a difference of 1,278 against 5,481 recorded in the same period last year.
According to him, out of the figure, 420 are foreigners while 6, 339 are Nigerians.
“I am happy that there is improvement in visitors’ patronage here in the museum. This is very significant and encouraging,’’ he said.
Omotosho, however, advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of visiting museums in order to tap from the enriching knowledge that could be achieved from the nation’s history.
“We have so much depicting national history that can improve the knowledge of people; here history is brought closer to us.
“Nigerian cultural practises from the pre-colonial age to the post-colonial era are also openly displayed.
“Presently, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments manages and oversees 45 museums and outlets spread across the country.’’
These include museums in Abeokuta, Aba, Akure, Asaba, Benin, Calabar, Enugu, Esie, Ibadan, Igbo-Ukwu, Ile-Ife, Ilorin, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Lafia, Lagos, Lokoja and Maiduguri.
Others are Markudi, Minna, Nok, Osogbo, Oyo, Oron, Owerri, Owo, Port-Harcourt, Sokoto, Umuahia, Uyo, Yola and the Institute of Archaeology and Museum Studies in Jos. (NAN)
PTB/ENN/MO
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Morayo Omolade