New Museum in Anambra State: Onitsha Museum

The Governor of Anambra state Chief Willie Obiano has laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Chimedie Museum in Onitsha. The museum, according to the governor was in part pursuit of the administration’s exploration and expansion of the state’s tourism potentials.

He said, “my administration is exploring the state’s tourism potentials as a way of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the State”. The governor acknowledged that Onitsha as an ancient Igbo kingdom, spanning over many decades has very rich cultural endowments including collections and artifacts.He therefore commended the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe for bringing up the initiative to preserve and showcase the people’s cultural and traditional heritage.

He noted that the Museum will help promote the seemingly dying Igbo culture and tradition and promised that his administration will expedite action on the ongoing construction of a five-star hotel project located in the area to provide comfortable accommodation for tourists who would be visiting the Centre.

The foundation stone laying ceremony was part of activities marking the 75th Birthday Anniversary of Igwe Achebe. The Museum project which is being undertaken by the Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation, when completed, is to contain Modern African Arts, Visual Arts and Royal Paraphernalia of the Onitsha Kingdom, historic documents and research materials among others.

Igwe Achebe in a remark stated that the museum was to mark the beginning of a private engagement to reverse the negative trend of not preserving their culture and tradition by Ndi Igbo. According to him, the project aims to play a key role in the emergence of Onitsha and Anambra State as a major tourist centre and to provide a viable centre for education and cultural enlightenment.

The designer of the project, Architect Theo Lawson in an exposition, said they intend to develop the concept of a worldclass royalty museum that will add value to the Onitsha Community and the entire state.