Sometimes, you need a break away from the regular restaurants, cinemas, parks and the likes. Going to museums in Nigeria can help you get away from the normal everyday outings and also be a great source of historical education and entertainment for you.
Museums are places where history is made tangible. They help manage Nigeria’s historical and cultural materials which are mostly artefacts and ethnographic materials found within the country. These materials are then collected, stored, and showcased to the public through the different museums in Nigeria.
There are more than 40 registered museums in Nigeria including galleries which are across 36 states in the country. This article takes you through the most popular museums across the country.
The Nigerian National Museum
Founded in 1957 and located at Awolowo road, Onikan Lagos, the Nigerian National Museum has an exceptional collection of arts, cultures, archaeological and ethnographic exhibits.
This is one of the best museums in the country and visiting here is worth a valuable experience. The museum has pieces of carvings and historical statues and monuments. This museum opens daily from 6:00 am – 6:00 pm.
Jos Museum
Like the name implies, the Jos museum is located in the complex very close to the Jos Zoo in Plateau state. It was founded in 1952 by a man called Bernard Fagg.
With its collection of Nok terracotta heads – sculptures which date as far back as 500 B.C, the Jos museum gives an insight into the prehistoric culture of Nigeria. The museum has a number of unique exhibits that would make your visit worthwhile. There are also collections of finely crafted pottery in the Pottery Hall inside the museum.
National War Museum, Umuahia
Founded in 1985, the national war museum is a preserve of the travails of historical wars in Nigeria, located in Umuahia, Abia State. This is one of the few museums in Nigeria that houses some extra-ordinary relics of modern and traditional warfare which are quite significant to the history of Nigeria.
It is called a war museum because it has on display many of the tools and craft that were used during the Nigerian Civil War. A trip to this museum takes you through the popular Aba women riot, Enugu Coal Miner Riots and the famous local bombs called Ogbunigwe amongst many other things. The National war museum reminds us about the atrocities and the barbarism of war.
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The Calabar Museum
Also called Calabar old residency museum, it is located in Duke town, Calabar, Cross river state. This museum is set in a colonial structure, it is rich in historical knowledge of Nigeria in pre-colonial and colonial times.
It also has artworks and artifacts of slave trade, the colonial times and relics of the British empire.
The National Museum, Kaduna
The National Museum, Kaduna was established in 1975 and is located opposite the Emir of Zazzau’s palace along Ali Akilu Road in Kaduna. It comprises a collection of many archaeological and ethnographic artefacts such as terracotta statuettes and Benin bronzes. It also has structures constructed with the Hausa traditional architecture of mud and thatch.
A traditional craft village is also located within the Museum premises, where you can see creative art crafts and even watch craftsmen at work. The creativeness here is topnotch.
National Museum, Benin City
The Benin City National museum was established in 1973. Located on King’s Square, Benin, Edo state, it comprises of lot of intrinsic artworks which are significant to the Benin Empire such as the famous ‘Bini’ bronze sculptures, cast iron pieces and the terracotta.
This museum fully represents the depth and history of the Benin Empire and this will leave you in awe and gratitude. This museum would take you down memory lane as the Benin people were famous for their iron and bronze casting skills.
Other museums in Nigeria you can visit include;
Owo Museum, Owo, Ondo State.
Kanta Museum, Argungu, Kebbi State.
Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Ife, Osun State.
Oron Museum, Akwa Ibom State. .
Badagry Heritage Museum, Lagos State.
Gidan Makama Museum, Kano State.
Esie Museum, Kwara state.
Uli Beier Museum, Osogbo, Osun state.
