,,,,,Exploring Importance of Museum To Community Development.
By Goodluck Ikiebe
In an effort to preserve Culture and sustain it for generations unborn, the Fugar Progressive Union, a socio-cultural group in Edo State, is putting together a Youth Summit and a Cultural Festival from the 21st to 27th December, 2022.
The theme of the Fugar Youth summit is Unlocking the Potentials of Fugar Youths For Equitable Growth and Development. While that of the Fugar Cultural Festival 2022 is *Showcasing Our Cultural Values and Heritage.
The organizing committees of both the Fugar Youth Summit and Fugar Cultural Festival, say the are fully ready to showcase and preserve the Community’s cultural values and heritage to the world and preserve it for Fugar youths (the next generation).
Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the Chairman, Publicity and Marketing, Subcommittee, Barth Ikiebe and that of the Youth Summit, Mr Lawal Eghiebade, said the events will also witness the launching of the Fugar Museum/exhibition Centre.
“According to Bamgbade (2021), museums have a long history going back to the third century, when the first known museum was opened in the University of Alexandria in Egypt.”
“Over the years, however, the museum culture has spread to nearly every part of the world and today, it has become uncommon to find any country that does not have a museum.”
According to the organisers, this implies that the concept of the museum has become a global concept that has survived the 20th century.
“The museum is an institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting the cultural and natural heritage of humanity. Museums have been founded for variety of purposes; to serve as recreation facilities, scholarly avenues and educational resources; to contribute to the quality of life of the areas where they are situated, to attract tourism to a particular region, to promote civic pride or nationalistic endeavour or even to transmit overtly theological concept”
The museum, according to the Organising Committee Members, as an institution tells the story of man the world over and how humanity has survived in its environment over the years.
“It houses things created by nature and by man and in our modern society, it houses the cultural soul of the nation, and it is, therefore, safe to say that no country of the world can have a meaningful development if it does not refer to its museum”.
In Nigeria, the museum has contributed to bringing about peace among the diverse ethnic groups in the country, especially after the civil war.
This, the museum was able to do by providing elements that foster peaceful co-existence and cross cultural connections that go beyond the diversity of the Nigerian people.
Through those efforts, the museum has taken the front seat on the campaign for national unity and integration.
Museum collections have continued to shape visitors’ perception, attitude, behaviour and relationship positively.
Economically, the museum has encouraged indigenous technology, art and crafts, which are the bedrock for modern inventions.
Through the skill acquisition programme of the Education Department of Museum, indigent members of the public such as widows, housewives, young school leavers and unemployed graduates are economically empowered to be self-reliant and creators of jobs.
Skills like beading, tie and dye, art and craft are taught in the museum by highly-trained officers.
Besides the economic importance of the museum to the society, there is also the social cultural dimension.
The museum in Nigeria, for example, played a key role during the country’s hosting of Festival of African Culture (FESTAC 77).
Through its collections, Nigeria was able to showcase its contributions to world history.
This opened a doorway for closer cooperation with world powers with particular reference to political, economic and cultural ties.
Museums provide a wide range of activities that promote life and wellbeing of the people, especially in the areas where they operate.
In this regard, the National Council For Arts and Culture, deemed it fit to collaborate with the Fugar Progressive Union, to organise this year’s Fugar Cultural Festival so as to showcase Fugar cultural values and heritage.
During the events, associates, Diplomats, family and friends of Fugar community will also visit some of the tourist sites like Oghodoghodo, Edegbakhe Caves and Ozikhor.
The organizing committees of Fugar Youth summit and Fugar Cultural Festival have made the necessary arrangements to make your stay in Fugar fun and memorable especially the Grand Finale Cultural Carnival on the 27th December.
For more details follow us on our instagram and Facebook page *fugaryouthsummit* and fugarculturalfestival.
