Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Chief (Dr.) Omotosho Eluyemi, in a chat with The Guardian said there was a lot to learn from our culture and tradition since they are unique in the world.

Eluyemi, who spoke against the background of what the NCMM is doing to mark this year's celebration in Ile-Ife, Osun State on Saturday of the popular Olojo Festival, said NCMM is out to educate Nigerians on the need to explore the richness of their culture and tradition which is being better appreciated by foreigners.

The director general, who is also the Apena of Ife noted that Olojo is celebrated to remember the deity Ogun, who is described as a revolutionary god. "It was Ogun who introduced the use of metal to the society. From there, villages were turned to cities and cities to industrial centres. It is by extensive use of iron that society improves," he said.

While observing that it is the duty of the NCMM to educate people to appreciate Ogun as the revolutionary pacesetter that he is rather than run away >from it, he said Olojo is a popular Yoruba festival that preaches peace and unity of all.

On the unique place of Ife as the home of the Yoruba, he said: "there isn't a controversy about the place of Ile-Ife in Yoruba history. Everybody sees the town as the root; that is why you see us at the NCMM treat Ife the cradle as a special "product," the town Ife is a centre where people come to learn ideas and ways of life."

Pointing out that Ife is important to the human race, he explained that "it is the only town with the highest number of museums with over 401 shrines and temples. There is no family in Ife that has no shrine or temple; the Ooni himself is a product of the museum in that he is a demi god."

Eluyemi also disclosed that his commission will soon start the reproduction of artefacts for sale to discourage the original artefacts from being stolen by admirers."

Thursday, October 25, 2001. Guardian