Nigeria - Libraries and museums



The National Library of Nigeria was founded in Lagos in 1962 and had about 1.054 million volumes in 2002, including some 35,000 United Nations documents and the National Information and Documentation Center. State governments have libraries in their respective capitals and in all the local government headquarters. Almost all of the 20 universities have libraries. In 2002 the largest public library in Kano held 300,000 volumes. The chief university library is that of the University of Ibadan, which contains 450,000 volumes. Other sizable university collections are at the University of Lagos (375,000 volumes), the University of Ife (401,000), and the University of Nigeria at Nsukka and Enugu (717,000). The High Court of Lagos State holds a collection of 600,000 volumes. There are dozens of other privately maintained collections throughout the country.

In 2001, Nigeria had over 30 museums. The National Museum in Lagos contains many specimens of Nigerian art, mostly pieces of statuary and carvings, remarkable for their variety and quality. It also has archaeological and ethnographic exhibits. Other museums represent more specialized interests: the museum at Ife opened in 1955 in response to halt the looting of national art treasures, and contains world-renowned bronze and terra cotta heads; the decorative arts museum at Benin City has a collection of bronzes; and that at Oron has a valuable collection of ancestor carvings. The museum at Jos, opened in 1952 originally as the National Museum, is a center of research into the prehistoric culture of Nigeria. The Esie Museum, at Ilorin in Kwara State, has stone antiquities, and the National Museum at Kaduna has archaeological and ethnographic exhibits, including a "craft village." The Owo Museum, in Ondo State, displays arts, crafts, and ethnographic relics. There are also museums in Kano, Argungu, and Oshogbo. Lagos also houses the Centre for Black and African Art and Civilization.

User Contributions:

1
ayodele daniel
In addition to some of the museums mentioned, the department of archaeology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria has its own museum located within the faculty of arts. The museum though barely large enough, houses various artefacts of archaeological importance such as parts of tuyeres, iron slag, potsherd, etc sourced from archaeological sites in Zaria and beyond. It also serves as a learning tool for students who have never been to a museum.
2
Dominique Bal'lance-Wiechman
This article hold a nice amount of information and is useful for class projects or teaching guides.
PLS I NEED A GIUDE ON NIGERIAN MUSEUMS.AND ITS SERVICES
4
Cecilia Olong
I need help in the list of all the museums in Nigeria. Ever museum of every state.
LET US EMBRACE ART TO PROJECT OUR CULTURE.
PLEASE LISTS ALL NIGERIAN MUSEUMS, WITH THEIR ESTABLISHMENT DATES.
THANKS.
6
Jim KABLE
A kinsman Kenneth C. MURRAY is credited with establishing the National Museum - building it up in the 1950s till its opening in 1962. I wonder if there has been any writing about his contribution to the protection/preservation of Nigeria's artistic traditions? I am certainly interested in knowing more about him. His younger sister gave me lots of information when I visited her in England in her old age (died 1998)! Kenneth MURRAY was in Lagos/Nigeria from 1927 till beyond his retirement when he was killed in a bus accident in 1972 while en route to a Museum opening in Kano (I think)! Any information I would appreciate! Thank-you!
7
lamidoabubakarisah
How does libraries came about in Nigeria?or what is the evolution of libraries in Nigeria?and who was the first person to establish labrary in Nigeria?
8
Morineke
I'm looking for information on Antique Brass Oba/Wedding Purses - the top lifts and it has hanging leather straps with various types of objects... Purchased while I worked there in the early to mid 70s. I received a release of the museum to bring it back to Canada. I want to find some info and also what it is worth. Thank you
9
kareem yinka
if we are coming as church to lagos. what are the procedure to follow?
10
jamila
What are problem/ challanges facing nigerian museum
11
fortune
PLS I NEED AN INFORMATION ABOUT 31 MUSEUM AND THE DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT
IN NIGERIA

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