The Federal Government has been urged to allow museum and antiquity protection officers to bear arms to confront the threat of those in illegal possession of natural artefacts.
The acting Director, Leventis Museum of Natural History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Adisa Ogunfolakan, made the call on Monday at a workshop themed ‘Campaign against illicit excavation from historical sites and trade in cultural properties,’ organised by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, held at Yemoo Groove, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The university scholar urged the FG to deal decisively with individuals found in possession of natural artefacts.
Speaking further at the event attended by conventional and non-conventional security agents, students, cultural enthusiasts and construction workers, Ogunfolakan also demanded the use of digital technology in safeguarding and preserving cultural heritage in the wave of technological advancement.
He said, “If any cultural object is destroyed or stolen, Nigeria’s history is no longer complete, and that is why we must all strive as much as possible to protect them. Ignorance is one of the major things affecting the protection of Nigeria’s cultural heritage. Very many Nigerians do not even know the value of these cultural objects that we have. They don’t know the usefulness of these objects that we have, and some are even calling them idols.
“Something you call an idol — a Muslim for example — will not want to have anything to do with it; a Christian will not want to be identified with it. There is a need for us to go back into what we call cultural education.
“We need to educate our people about the usefulness and value of objects that we have because something you don’t have value for, you are not necessarily bound to protect or keep them.
“The time is now that we call on the National Assembly that museum and antiquity protection officers must be carrying arms. It is when they carry arms they will be able to confront any threat.
“Not only that, most museum security that were employed in the past happened as a sort of, or collaboration from within. And that is because in the past before someone is employed as a security operative, police officer, or whatever, they carry out background checks on them to know their character and whether they are suitable for the job.”
Speaking earlier, the Director General of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Prof. Abba Tijani, who was represented by Mrs Mopelola Omowumi, encouraged participants, especially students, to further disseminate the campaign on the significance of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
