In a landmark stride towards safeguarding Nigeria’s cultural wealth and projecting it to a global audience, the Federal Government has unveiled the country’s first National Digital Museum.
The initiative, developed by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in partnership with the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, was inaugurated on Friday by the Minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, in Lagos.
Speaking at the launch, Musawa described the project as a bold leap into a new era of cultural preservation through technology.
“Today, we stand at the threshold of a new era for Nigeria’s cultural heritage,” she said. “This event is not merely a celebration of technological achievement; it is a testament to our nation’s enduring commitment to preserving, promoting, and sharing the richness of our history and creativity with the world.”
The NCMM Digital Museum is the first in Nigeria to showcase real-life antiquities in an immersive online environment. Through interactive exhibitions, multimedia storytelling and virtual tours, the platform offers both Nigerians and international audiences the opportunity to explore the nation’s cultural heritage remotely.
“This innovative project ensures that our stories, traditions, and creative expressions are preserved not only for today but for generations yet unborn,” Musawa added.
While hailing the breakthrough, the Minister drew attention to the long-standing challenges confronting Nigerian museums and cultural institutions, ranging from inadequate funding and poor infrastructure to insecurity. Despite these obstacles, she said, the institutions had remained resilient and essential to the nation’s identity.
According to her, the digital museum is designed to place Nigeria on the global map of digital heritage innovation, joining the ranks of renowned institutions such as the Louvre, the Smithsonian and the British Museum. It is expected to serve as a platform for both national pride and international collaboration.
“We invite every Nigerian and our friends from around the world to explore, engage, and celebrate our cultural legacy,” she urged.
Present at the ceremony were Ayotade Oyinlola, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, IHS Nigeria; Mohamad Darwish, Executive Vice President, IHS Nigeria and Co-Founder/CEO; and Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of the NCMM.
The unveiling of the digital museum, Musawa noted, further underlines the Tinubu administration’s commitment to innovation, education and the global promotion of Nigeria’s cultural diversity.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
