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.
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