Museum Day: Ethnic group fears extinction of mother tongue
Museum
By Martha Agas
Jos, May 18, 2018(NAN) As the world celebrates the annual International Museum Day, the Ngas ethnic group on Friday in Jos expressed fear of extinction of the mother tongue.
Speaking at an event to mark the day, Mr Gonen Gofwen, National President of the group, advised parents to preserve their local dialects by ensuring that children are eloquent in them.
“Our rich culture and heritage must be preserved for our identity and posterity as well as for research and development purposes,’’ he said.
He said it was an honour for Plateau to focus on the Ngas ethnic group for the celebration, adding that it would foster unity among them and other ethnic groups.
“The focus on our ethnic group will raise the level of consciousness of our rich culture and tradition for the younger generation.
“It will also fast track development in our area, thus increasing economic activities and source of income for the youth,’’ he said.
Mrs Bienyaan Bitiyong, Curator of the National Museum, Jos, said that the organisation was charting new ways of collaboration to attract new publics.
“New collaborations with government, the private sector and our communities would boost more patronage for the museum,’’ she said.
Bitiyong said the “100 steps’’ hilly tourist site at the museum was being developed to attract more visitors.
“Jos city can be viewed from that hill; it is a beautiful sight to behold.’’
She explained that the theme for the 2018 celebration, “Hyper-Connected Museums: New Approaches, New Public” was a clarion call to adopt new technology through digitalization of collections for exhibition and to reach more people through social media.
Speaking, Mrs Tamwakat Weli, Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, said the state government was committed to making Plateau a tourism hub.
She said the crowd at the event was an attestation that culture fosters unity and tolerance, whilst reiterating the importance of peace for rapid development. (NAN)
MAA/CEO/IFY
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Edited by Chidi Opara/Ify Omowole