The Old Secretariat Building at Marina, Lagos
By Joan Odafe
The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and IFRA-Nigeria have urged Nigerians to rethink heritage beyond famous monuments, highlighting overlooked cultural sites and endangered natural landscapes.
The call was made on Wednesday in Lagos during an exhibition on monuments and natural history organised by both institutions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IFRA-Nigeria stands for Institut Francais de Recherche en Afrique.
The exhibition, with the theme ‘Reimagining Nigerian Alternative Heritage”, seeks to broaden public understanding of what constitutes heritage in Nigeria.
Curator of the National Museum, Lagos, Mrs Nkechi Adedeji, said the exhibition was designed to move audiences beyond conventional heritage narratives.
“This exhibition invites us to look beyond the conventional narratives of heritage and reimagine the diverse stories our monuments and natural history tell,” Adedeji said.
She described monuments and landscapes as living narratives that continue to shape Nigeria’s identity rather than mere relics of the past.
“These structures and environments are active participants in shaping our identity,” she added.
Adedeji said the exhibition highlighted the interplay of tradition, religion, architecture and modernity in Nigeria’s evolving heritage.
She listed monuments featured as Iga Idunganran, Shitta-Bey Mosque, Creek Town Church in Calabar and Omo-ukwu Temple in Abia.
“These monuments reflect the dynamic interplay of tradition, religion and modernity,” she said.
The curator also stressed that forests, rivers, wildlife and geological formations were integral to heritage with ecological, spiritual and historical significance.
“They remind us of our deep connection to the environment,” she said.
Adedeji urged Nigerians to honour and protect monuments and natural history for future generations.
Speaking on architectural displays, NCMM Assistant Director, Heritage Services, Mrs Grace Ifeadi, said the exhibition showcased traditional architecture and historic monuments.
“Where we are today is a monument. Are we aware?” Ifeadi asked, referencing the Old Secretariat building in Lagos.
According to her, the Old Secretariat, built in 1906, and the Old Oba’s Palace, dating to the 17th century, remain significant heritage structures.
Ifeadi added that Nigeria’s educational heritage was represented by CMS Grammar School, built in 1859 as the country’s first secondary school.
Director of IFRA-Nigeria, Dr Pauline Guinard, said the exhibition was part of the French Embassy-funded Nigerian Alternative Heritage project.
“This project questions what heritage means in Nigeria today, especially those overlooked or at risk of disappearance,” Guinard said.
She noted that digitisation was crucial to preservation, adding that collaboration with NCMM had made collections more accessible to the public.
Guinard said the project encouraged Nigerians to view heritage as encompassing nature as well as culture.
NAN also reports that the Old Secretariat was built in 1906 by the British colonial Public Works Department.
The building served as the administrative headquarters of the Southern Protectorate and housed key offices, including that of the Governor-General. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
