The National Commission for Museums and Monuments(NCMM) has canvassed for an effective management of heritage sites in Nigeria.
A Director in the commission, Tonye Dagogo, made the call when he led a team of the commission’s staff to a meeting with the Eze Ekpeye Logbo In-Council at Ekpeye House, Ahoada in Rivers State.
Dagogo, who is the head of Heritage and Monuments in the commission’s office in Port Harcourt, advocated that the younger generation should be introduced to diverse cultural heritage sites and that indigenous languages should be used in the protection and management of cultural heritage sites.
Informing that the museum’s goal is to preserve cultural identity of people and races and use it as a driving force for sustainable economic development of the local population, Dagogo said their presence at Ekpeye House was to complement the trail blazing role of His Imperial Majesty, Eze Robinson Okparanwo Robinson, Eze Ekpeye Logbo II in the protection and promotion of Ekpeye cultural heritage.
Eze Robinson however assured the commission of the support of the Ekpeye traditional institution.
Dagogo further appealed to well meaning Nigerians to assist in preserving the nation’s cultural heritage because “when our heritage sites are fully developed, it will benefit tour operators, tourists, researchers, communities and the general public”.
He listed such sites in Ekpeye land that need protection and preservation to include Obolo Imaji shrine at Ula Ubie, Akalaka tomb at Ula Ubie, Captain Sawyer grave at Udebu, Colonial guests house at Ahoada and Edmund Ashirim Unoshi palace at Ihuaba. Others are King Ordu Nworisa house at Ogbele, First missionary church at Ogbele, Underground arms bunker at Abarikpo among others.
Eze Ekpeye Logbo who, spoke on behalf of Ekpeye people promised that he will fund the erection of a glass gallery at the museum to house Ekpeye artefacts, noting the visit of the museum team as timely.
He said cultural heritage serve as the identity of a people, stating that the people must learn to keep ancient materials for the upcoming generation because the “materials serve as a reminder of the past”.
Experts of Ekpeye extraction were unanimous in support of the call for the protection and preservation of heritage sites, warning against the destruction of those things that form the core identity of the Ekpeye Ethnic Nation.
Nwuche Michael Nwuche, an expert in African art, urged for the review of perception by the people on cultural heritage.
Nwuche, named as a member of the Ekpeye Cultural Heritage Committee by Eze Robinson, beckoned on the people to assist to sustain their history and concise heritage components amongst the younger generation.
Also, Gift Ekine, Chairman of the committee, called for synergy between the elders and the traditional institution on the need to conserve and protect monuments and heritage sites in Ekpeye land.
NCMM coordinates heritage at all levels, aiming at fostering a spirit of cooperation and attainment of high arts standards through collaboration with bodies specialised in cultural related programme.
Visit to some of the identified sites in Ekpeye land has started, signalling that the rich history of the Ekpeye people which depicts strong culture is set to be unravelled.
