27th February, 2018
Photo credit: Lape Soetan
The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Lagos office, on Tuesday played host to 332 students from five schools from Lagos and Ogun States.
The schools are: Yeshua High School, Berger, 112, Joyful Liberty International School, Lekki,44, All Preciousworth School, Marlboro, 78, Rows of Jewel Nursery and Primary School, Mode, 29, and Mother Alice Memorial School, Agege, 69.
Mr Dopemu Olaniyi, the Coordinator of Yeshua High School,Berger, said that the students were at the museum to learn more about what they were taught in school.
He said that the school wished to expose the children to the rich and diverse culture of the nation so as to enable them practise it.
“We want the students to be in tune with our culture so that the students can embrace and can practise it.
“That is the reason we brought them to see some of what was done in the past by our forefathers,’’ he said.
Sharon Akinyinmika, a student from the school expressed surprise at the ancient mode of giving birth and the mystery behind the `opha’ fertility figure.
She said the people believed that deities such as “Orunmila” , “Osanyin” and others used to answer people’s prayers then.
“The mode of giving birth then was interesting but dreadful and the knowledge about how the various deities came into existence and their heroic deeds then are quite fascinating,’’ she said.
Mrs Obajuluwa Bukola, the Proprietress of All Preciousworth Schools in Magboro, Ogun, said that the students at the museum to see the ancient craft.
She said that this was to enable them familiarise themselves with what was obtainable in the past and embrace innovations in arts, craft and weaving.
“We teach them how to weave baskets and other handicrafts in the school.
“They are here to see and appreciate the craft peculiar to the ancient past so that they can be creative on their own, ’’ she said.
Victor Fatokun, a student of the school gave an account of the knowledge he gained from weaving basket and cane chairs.
“I can see that weaving is still done in contemporary times as it was done before,but with slight improvements now,’’ he said.
Mr Victor Ugbiedah, a teacher from Joyful Liberty International School, Lekki in Lagos State, said that the students were supposed to know the implication of foreign influence on Nigerian culture.
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He said that this was important so that the children would know the essence of embracing Nigerian culture which is the main objective of the school visiting the museum.
“These children were visiting the museum so that they can know what our dress pattern and why they should embrace a decent mode of dressing,’’ she said.
A student of the school, Emmanuel Euberia, who got emotional when he saw the slave trade monoliths, said that government must do whatever it can to stop every form of slavery amongst its citizens.
“It is so disheartening for fellow humans to engage in enslaving their neighbours, this must not reoccur again in our history,’’ he said.
Mrs Funmilayo Adeyiga, a teacher from Rows of Jewel Nursery and Primary School, Mowe, acknowledged that the museum attendants were hospitable and eloquent enough in teaching the students the history of the nation.
Precious Adeboye, a student of the school gave an account of the Ikom monolith which was the stone that represented the ancestors and had been in existence for over 2, 000 years.
“This was used to keep records of happenings unlike the computers and documents we have now,’’ he said.
Mr Emmanuel Omotosho advised public schools in Lagos State to bring their students to the museum for them to know more about the nation’s history like their colleagues from the private schools.
He said that students from public schools had been deprived of huge cultural and historical knowledge; hence, the Lagos State Government must enact laws that will make it compulsory for the students to always visit the museum regularly to learn about their culture.