Scholar counsels on museums
A graduate of Museum Studies, University of West Georgia, Titilope Falola, has urged the governments in Nigeria, public and private institutions, not to neglect museums.
She noted that the conversation around repatriation of artifacts from Western museums to their countries of origin, including Nigeria, had gained global attention.
She, however, cautioned that while the West advocated for the return of looted artifacts, Nigeria must take action to ensure that its museums are adequately prepared to receive and conserve these cultural treasures.
She added that the dialogue about restitution could not be one-sided.
She counselled the government and the people in Nigeria to address the shortcomings in the museum sector in the country if they were to responsibly manage the heritage being returned to them.
These were contained in a statement on Monday titled, ‘The West Can’t Keep Talking About Repatriation While We Neglect Our Museums.’
Falola said, “The conversation around repatriation of artifacts from Western museums to their countries of origin, including Nigeria, has rightly gained global attention.
However, while the West advocates for the return of looted artifacts, Nigeria must take action to ensure that its museums are adequately prepared to receive and conserve these cultural treasures. The dialogue about restitution cannot be one-sided. We, in Nigeria, need to address the shortcomings in our museum sector if we are to responsibly manage the heritage being returned to us.
“It is counterproductive for the West to push for the repatriation of our cultural artifacts while we are not investing in the infrastructure required to house them. Many Nigerian museums suffer from poor funding, insufficient conservation facilities, and a lack of trained personnel. Repatriation is not just about returning artifacts—it is about ensuring these treasures are preserved for future generations. Without proper investment in our museums, we risk losing the very items we fought to bring home.
“The Nigerian government must prioritize funding to improve museum infrastructure, providing state-of-the-art storage, climate control systems, and security. This will allow our museums to properly care for sensitive artifacts, many of which require specific environmental conditions to prevent deterioration. If we don’t address these issues, the very objects we reclaim may degrade over time, undermining the significance of their return.”
Falola, who is an award recipient of The Danny Williams and Arden Williams Public History, stated that a critical step in preparing for the future is the incorporation of public history and museum studies into the curricula of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
She opined that if these repatriated treasures were to be well managed, there was the need for a new generation of historians and conservators equipped with practical skills in museum management, collection care, archiving and curation.
She said, “Universities should offer hands-on experience in museum collections, allowing students to directly engage with artifacts, learn proper conservation techniques, and understand the importance of exhibition design and museum administration. By training future professionals in museum studies, we can build a workforce capable of running museums to global standards, ensuring the sustainability of our cultural heritage.
“We cannot solely rely on external pressure to return our artifacts. Nigeria must demonstrate its commitment to heritage conservation by addressing the internal challenges that our museum sector faces. If we focus on improving our museums—both through government funding and educational reforms—Nigeria can become a leader in the global movement for cultural heritage preservation. Only then will the repatriation conversation move from a symbolic gesture to a lasting legacy for our nation.
“The conversation around repatriation of artifacts from Western museums to their countries of origin, including Nigeria, has rightly gained global attention. However, while the West advocates for the return of looted artifacts, Nigeria must take action to ensure that its museums are adequately prepared to receive and conserve these cultural treasures. The dialogue about restitution cannot be one-sided. We, in Nigeria, need to address the shortcomings in our museum sector if we are to responsibly manage the heritage being returned to us.
“It is counterproductive for the West to push for the repatriation of our cultural artifacts while we are not investing in the infrastructure required to house them. Many Nigerian museums suffer from poor funding, insufficient conservation facilities, and a lack of trained personnel. Repatriation is not just about returning artifacts, it is about ensuring these treasures are preserved for future generations. Without proper investment in our museums, we risk losing the very items we fought to bring home.”
Falola urged the federal and state governments to prioritize funding to improve museum infrastructure, providing state-of-the-art storage, climate control systems, and security in the museums.
According to her, this will allow museums in the country to properly care for sensitive artifacts, many of which, she said, require specific environmental conditions to prevent deterioration.
She cautioned that if these issues were not addressed, the very objects that are reclaimed may degrade over time, undermining the significance of their return.
According to her, a critical step in preparing for the future is the incorporation of public history and museum studies into the curricula of tertiary institutions in the country.
If we are to manage these repatriated treasures, we need a new generation of historians and conservators equipped with practical skills in museum management, collection care, archiving, and curation.
“Universities and other tertiary institutions should offer hands-on experience in museum collections, allowing students to directly engage with artifacts, learn proper conservation techniques, and understand the importance of exhibition design and museum administration. By training future professionals in museum studies, we can build a workforce capable of running museums to global standards, ensuring the sustainability of our cultural heritage.
“We cannot solely rely on external pressure to return our artifacts. Nigeria must demonstrate its commitment to heritage conservation by addressing the internal challenges that our museum sector faces,” Falola said.
