PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
The United States Consulates General, Lagos in partnership with the National Commission for Museum and Muniment have spent over $22,000 dollars in an efforts to rebrand the old residency museum library in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Speaking while commissioning the old residency refurbished e-library, on Thursday in Calabar, the United States Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibeli, said the U.S is very interested in cultural preservation which inform their involvement in the partnership with the National Commission for Museum and Muniment.
According to him, It is that commitment that the United States has given out over a quarter million dollars through its ambassador fund in Nigeria.
“When we came to Calabar, 18 months ago, we saw that the museum really needed attention, tender love and care” he noted.
In his address, the Director General of the National Commission for Museum and Muniment, Aba Isa Tijani commended the the Cross River State Government and Consulate General, Lagos, for the commissioning of the re-imagined library project of National Museum,Old Residency, Calabar.
The director who was represented by Evelyn Iheoma, the curator National Commission for Museum and Muniments Umuhia Abia State said the commission has the mandate to collect, excavate, regulate, control, promote and exhibit objects of antiquities, establish museums and offices to protect museum collections, documented records and library materials all over Nigeria.
According to him, “Its vision is to safeguard and promote Nigerian Heritage and cultural property while the mission is to safeguard cultural property by ensuring that only genuine antiquities are preserved and conserved for public leisure, education and enjoyment”.
“Museums are storehouses of artefacts and books, documentaries, photographs, maps, field notes, sound recordings, reports, research collections, professional tools and archival records.The Old Residency Museum Library was established in August 1986 when the museum was opened to the public. The library is a specialized library that collects materials of historical, cultural, ethnographic, archaeological, socio-political, archival and museology. In the library holdings of the Old Residency Museum, Calabar, we have several of these library and archival materials. They represent a remarkable record of Nigerian colonial archives, cultural heritage and research materials”
Also speaking, the Chairman Cross River State Carnival Commission, Gabe Onah said ‘ We are lucky to have the United States Consulates partnered the National Commission for Museum and Muniment on this product re-enginering which is called rebranding”
“This efforts is geared towards catching them young. The e-library is targeting the youths, from my point of view of the Tourism Commission, we are working with International Association that attract and protect art and culture among children and youths and we want to use the museum as a connecting point because if we undermine the past, we loose tomorrow” he added.
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