Museum and Nation Building: A Case Study of Calabar and Umuahia Museums in Nigeria

Abstract

Museum is one of the propelling agents to nation building in Nigeria. It is one of the good elements that will make the citizens develop love for their country in conjunction with other factors such as good roads, water supply, electricity, education, health and employment. This paper in examining museums and nation building in Nigeria argues that museum remains one of the agents of nation building and national development. Most countries in Africa including Nigeria were not nations but rather nation states brought together by accident of colonialism, then museums remains very vital to building the Nigerian nation. The study specifically discussed the roles of Calabar slave museum and the Umuahia war museum in nation building such as the preservation of our cultural heritage, economic development investment opportunities and employment. The study established that these factors significantly contributes to Nation building in Nigeria. Among there commendations are; Museums should be holding exhibitions according to the current problems on ground and how such problems could be solved. They should constantly monitor and evaluate development in society while enriching their collections as well as engage in a training and retraining program for their workers so that they can function effectively and develop the capacity to embrace change.