Museums tool for economic diversification, cultural preservation, says Gombe deputy gov
By Jack Tasha
Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Jatau, says Museums are veritable tools of preservation of cultural artefacts and economic diversification that enhances growth and development of a society.
He disclosed this when the Chief Curator of National Museum, Gombe Office Hassan Kasim led management staff of their office on a courtesy visit to Gombe.
The Deputy Governor lamented that over 20 years since creation of the State, Gombe is yet to have a museum where the rich historical and cultural heritage of the divers ethnic groups in the state would be preserved and harnessed for socioeconomic development.
“The importance of Museums cannot be overemphasized in view of its advantage to provide historical background and landmarks that can help in handling boarder frictions towards reducing conflicts that results in lost of lives and properties,” he said.
He explained that the investment in the educational sector by their administration was in acknowledgement of the role of education in development of all sectors and a deliberate effort to create a conducive environment for the betterment of lives of people.
He expressed the administration’s commitment to ensure the state has a befitting museum like other states of the federation so that whenever there are national programs in the state quests shall be taken round to relax as they acquaint themselves with the history and culture of the people of Gombe State.
Responding on a request for a befitting office to serve as a museum, the Deputy Governor said that the state has been very liberal on allocating lands to organizations that are willing to assists in development of the state, requesting the management to forward a formal written request to the Governor for approval.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Curator, National Museum, Gombe, Hassan Kasim, said the National Commission for Museums and Monuments as a parastatal of federal government, “was vested with the responsibility of establishing Museums across the country as it hold in trust the nations priceless and irreplaceable treasures representing the heritage , and identity of the people,” Kasim said.
He further highlighted that the National Museum Gombe was established as an outcrop of National Commission for Museums and Monuments on 10th September, 2018, to serve as data bank of our past, and the present and a repository of collective memories of people of the state.
The Curator added, ” Gombe State and Nigeria as a nation over the centuries have been a platform for some great historical epochs, monuments and civilization that has given birth to development in trade and commerce, politics and military workforce, agriculture, architecture, religion and cultural values.”
He further added that the establishment of Gombe office was for the purpose of collecting, conserving, and preserving of the State’s heritage for the education, enjoyment, entertainment and research for the general public.
He revealed that, their office is planning an exhibition with the theme” Gombe state and the society ” to future landmark events, personalities and phenomenon that touches on social, economic, cultural and industrial history of the various societies and people through collaborations.
In addition, the state Curator said that the key objective of the exhibition include, to establish a permanent institution that will bind present,and future generations and humanity together through an organised platform which will faithfully collects researches, exhibits, and transmits the history and experiences of Gombe state people in concrete terms.
Also speaking was the Patron of the Gombe Office of the National Museum, Alh. Yaya Hammari, the Wazirin Yerima of Gombe, noted with delight the rich history of old Gombe Native Authority and the defunct Tangale Waja, which could be harnessed for development.
