NCMM records tremendous success since Tijani's assumption

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has recorded tremendous success since the assumption of office of the Director-General, Prof. Abba Tijani in 2020.

The NCMM DG, Tijani made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan.

NAN reports that Tijani spearheaded the drive for the Repatriation of many Benin Bronzes that were 

looted in 1897 to Nigeria after many failed attempts since the independence. 

Tijani remarked that the Repatriation agreements with countries in the West also attracted some beneficial collaboration in digitisation of museum collections and upgrade of the galleries.  

"We have been able to sign repatriation agreements and  returned  Benin  artefacts  from  the  University  of Aberdeen, Jesus College 

Cambridge,  The  Metropolitan  Museum,  New  York,  The  National  Gallery  of  Art, Washington, the Smithsonian Museum of African Art, Washington, the Horniman Museum 

and  Gardens,  London  and  four  public museums  in  Germany. 

"We  have  also  reached 

agreements  with Museum  of  Archaeology  and  Anthropology,  University  of  Cambridge  and 

Glasgow City Council Museums.

"There are more museums in Europe and the United States that 

are in advanced stage of finalising the agreements for repatriation.

"Also, discussion is ongoing with a firm in Austria to circulate some of the repatriated objects in a traveling exhibition around the world to generate revenue in millions of dollars," he said.

Tijani disclosed that there is also plans to exhibit some of the objects in the galleries of the famous Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

He emphasises that he is  a  member  of  ECOWAS  Repatriation  Committee  that is  saddled  with  the 

responsibility to champion repatriation of stolen artefacts of the region. 

He adds that the role of a Nigerian in  the repatriation efforts is highly recognized in the world which made ECOWAS to appoint him as one of its eleven- member repatriation committee.

"I was one of the Museum Directors that formed a group of Museum Directors from Africa and Europe to chart a course in promoting Museums. 

"Hence directors of museums from 38 countries in Africa and Europe, gathered at the Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar from April 25 to 

27, 2023, to affirm our ambition to build together a common future in promoting peace and mutual 

understanding.

"It was also to build and strengthen partnerships to meet contemporary challenges and  transmit  to  future  generations  a  spirit  of  mutual  trust  and  respect.  

"The  group  (Steering 

Committee)  submitted  a  concept  note  for  funding  which  got  approval  in  October  2023.The European Commission approved 15 million Euro and additional 5 million Euro was pledged by 

several EU member countries. 

"The project will start in February 2024," Tijani said.

The Curator of Lagos Museum, Mr Kingi Kasali, said Tijani was the most resilient, prudent DG the commission ever had because he used the least amount to mount world class exhibitions.

According to Kasali, Tijani  negotiated  for  the signing  of  a  Cultural Property  Implementation  Agreement  (CPIA) with  the  United  States in  November  2022, where 

Nigeria became the second African country to sign such agreement. 

He added that through his initiative, the commission secured a grant in August 2023, of $95,000.00 to implement the agreement in areas of digi of museum collections and capacity building of stakeholders involved in protecting cultural heritage from elicit traffic. 

Also, the Curator of Kaduna Museum, Mr Aliyuda Elkana said within the two years of his assumption, Tijani rehabilitated and upgraded the galleries 

and exhibitions of 18 National Museums across the country that their exhibitions had never been changed or upgraded for over 20 years to international standard. 

He said the museums that were upgraded and rehabilitated are Bauchi, Jos, Asaba, Enugu, Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Oyo, Minna, Nana 

Koko, Aba, Esie, Calabar, Ojah, Fombina (Yola), Osogbo, Maiduguri and Damaturu.

"More museums are being upgraded in 2023.

The Commission has been able to renovate a number of our National Monuments as well as the two World Heritage sites in Nigeria, through him.

"Through Tijani's leadership, the commission was able to direct and supervise the nomination and assessments of 113 new proposed National Monuments awaiting Presidential Assent.

"In fact, Tijani left an indelible mark that could not be forgotten as training, re-training of staff were not taken lightly," Elkana said. (NAN)