The Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Alhaji Abdulkerim Kadiri, on Thursday urged government at all levels as well as other stakeholders to partner the commission in preserving historical monuments and sites.
Kadiri, represented by the Curator, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Dr Amos Olorunnipa, made the call at a forum to mark the 2019 International Day for Monuments and Sites.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2019 International Day for Monuments and Sites has its theme: ‘Rural Landscapes:
Kadiri said that preservation of sites and monuments would ensure that a legacy was bequeathed to future generations.
He called for the support of communities, religious leaders and other stakeholders in realising the set goal of preserving monument heritage for humanity.
The International day for Monuments, he said, was meant to highlight the importance and contributions of monuments and sites to the social, political, economic and cultural development of the society.
“It offers the opportunity for National and International Scientific Committees to raise awareness about the relevance of rural landscapes and the challenges that encompass their conservation.
“It’s to raise awareness on their benefits and how rural landscapes are intrinsically related with sustainable development,” he said.
Also speaking, a Professor of Anthropology at the Uiniversity of Ibadan, Prof. Bayo Lawuyi, urged the government to enact bills that would define rural landscapes and uniqueness.
“It should set up a commission that will oversee the rural sector and ensure that the commission provides the basic values that define the rural communities.
“Rural location is all about what the people want to make by their own identity, there is value in being a rural person; being rural doesn’t mean that we are not civilised, it’s natural and we can promote nature and live on it,” he said.
Olorunnipa, on his part, underscored the need to involve local communities in the management of rural cultural landscapes to allow them develop their natural vocation.
“There is need for an institutional reform which goes beyond current partition of powers among federal, state and local authorities, which recomposes the protection, valuation and management of cultural heritage.
“The activities for this year’s event include: field trip to Osoogun where Ajayi Crowder was born and Awotan rural landscape sites- the abode of Ibadan people during war time called Oke-Ibadan or the first Ibadan.
“We also have lectures on the theme and presentation of findings on Awotan, free gallery tours, among others,” he said.
Olorunnipa also called on the Oyo State Government and other stakeholders to assist in conserving, protecting and marketing rural heritage landscapes in the state and Nigeria at large.
The dignitaries at the occasion were Oba Adebayo Omotosho, the Alawoaton of Awotan in Ibadan, Dr Bashiru Olarewaju, the Permanent Secretary in the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism who represented Gov. Abiola Ajimobi and other stakeholders in the tourism sector. (NAN)
