Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has canvassed technology deployment in preservation of Nigeria’s museums and other cultural heritage.
Speaking when he visited Art-Tech District Abuja, the first Digital Museum in Nigeria, the Surelere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State representative urged innovative use of technology to tell Nigerian story, noting that it better cultural and economic development of the country.
Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila, the Speaker explored the future of technology, nation’s cultural heritage and women in arts.
Gbajabiamila was taken round facilities and interactive exhibitions, which leveraged modern technologies like virtual reality to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and history, while also acknowledging the role technology has played in both current and future states.
The Speaker, who noted that he has been to museums around the world, added that he was impressed with the innovative approach to preserving and promoting Nigeria’s cultural identity, and lauded efforts at filling the gap and projecting Nigeria as being technological.
He said: “This museum strikes me as one that is different, it has its own niche, in that it’s digital, it’s modern, it’s innovative and it’s technology-driven. Museums I’ve been to are mostly traditional in concept. This is one of its kind in Nigeria, and possibly in Africa.”
On his part, founder of Discovery Museum, Mosope Olaosebikan, explained that the digital approach was borne out of desire to the storytelling gap in the country.
His words: “We not only want to attract a new generation of visitors, we also want to create new opportunities for the country’s cultural and economic development. I’m excited about the future of tourism and the creative industry in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.”
He lauded the speaker and wife for their participation.
“The Speaker’s visit is timely and comes after the museum has played host to other high-profile visitors such as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed and former World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships, Mari Elka Pangestu. With history having returned to the Nigerian schools’ curriculum, the museum looks forward to welcoming more visitors and continuing its mission to teach, interpret and promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through innovation and technology.”
