Only 1,000 persons – researchers, students and pupils visited the National Museum of Unity, Ibadan in 2021.
This was disclosed to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ibadan by the curator, Mr Sikiru Adedoyin, who stated that the figure represented a 45 per cent increase over the number of people who visited in 2020.
“The rate at which visitors – pupils, students and researchers visited the museum in recent times has been encouraging compared to last year when we had COVID-19 and a lockdown.
“The visitors include a balance in gender, tribes and ages,’’ an elated Adedoyin said.
According to him, the improvement in the number of visitors in the current year is attributable to some factors including public awareness.
“The awareness resulted in more people coming to the museum to patronise our facilities.
“The minds of people are being disabused to correct the impact of aspersions in the past about the museum.
“The museum’s education unit has used its powerful strategies to change, reinforce and establish a useful paradigm shift in the society,’’ he said.
Adedoyin added that there was also an increase in the acquisition of exhibits for display in the museum.
“In the outgoing year, we have had more inter-agency collaboration with stakeholders, sister agencies and ministries.
“The French and Australian ambassadors came visiting as heads of cultural delegations to Ibadan which is a plus for the museum’s profile,’’ he said.
The curator said the museum is open to all as part of measures to strengthen unity in diversity and peaceful coexistence between the people of Nigeria.
Adedoyin added that the museum would continue to partner with relevant stakeholders and organisations to improve itself and attract more visitors.