The Federal Government, yesterday, reaffirmed its commitment to the preservation, promotion, and celebration of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, in order to explore the vital nexus between tourism, and Museum, in shaping the country’s collective narrative.
The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, who disclosed this during her official visit to the Kosoko Palace and the King Kosoko Memorial Museum, Ereko, Lagos, said beyond artifacts, Museums serve as beacons of enlightenment, fostering understanding and appreciation of the past, while guiding the future steps.
The minister used the visit to commission the King Kosoko Memorial Museum, located within the palace. The museum houses over 200 relics from King Kosoko, who ruled Lagos from 1845 to 1851.
Oba Kosoko died on April 15, 1872 and was buried on April 25, 1872. He reigned as Oba of Lagos and later became the Oloja of Lagos after returning from Epe.
The ancient palace of the late king was upgraded to a museum by the Kosoko family in April 2022, about five years after its rehabilitation.
It was built in 1862 for the late Lagos monarch as part of the treaty to return him to Lagos, where he was exiled and made an Oloja.
She said: “In a world of globalisation and technological advancement, institutions like this museum project authenticity, reminding us of our country’s beauty and complexity.
“As the Federal Ministry of Tourism, it’s crucial to recognise and harness cultural institutions’ immense potential in advancing our national tourism agenda. Collaborating with the museum presents opportunities to promote cultural tourism, drive economic growth, and foster social cohesion,” she said.
The minister assured that the ministry will be partnering with King Kosoko Memorial Museum in the area of cultural tourism promotion; capacity building; and cultural exchange programmes, to yield mutually beneficial outcomes for the ministry.
In his speech, the Oloja-elect, Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko, said the minister’s visit has brought in the keys that’ll open doors that have been locked for many years. “Another thing is for us to ask God to give us wisdom for us to use the keys. You might have the key and do not know which door to open, but now we have the keys with us. Like the minister said, the Federal Government wants to see us start something and leverage on what we have started.
“We have a lot and we want to make use of this opportunity to also do little and see what the government will also do with us.”
While noting that the next step is the upgrading of the museum, Prince Kosoko, said: “The next thing is to begin the upgrading, which will be sectional to enable researchers to make their findings. We need finance, but we will see what we can do and what can come from this. We currently have private consultants, and we will keep their names private.”
