Senator advocates conversion of first national museum to university

Senator representing Kwara South senatorial district, Oyelola Ashiru, has advocated that the nation’s first national museum, Esie, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state should be made into a University of History and Archaeology to promote culture and tourism.

Speaking during visits to historical monuments and tourist sites in some parts of the senatorial district on Thursday, Senator Ashiru said that the move has the capacity to turn people’s heritage to economic viability and prosperity.

The lawmaker, who expressed the need to encourage the study of our culture to save it from going to extinction, described cultural tourism as an important life of human being.

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He, therefore, called on governments to collaborate with private investors to invest in tourism in Kwara South senatorial district for cultural and economic development.

“You will recall that Esie houses the first National Museum in Nigeria, since 1775 when soapstone images were discovered by a missionary and school inspector, Mr Ramshaw. Hence, the call for a University of History and Archaeology here more so, with attendant benefits and prospects for people and the country”, he said.

The senator, who visited Ero Omola Waterfalls in Idofin Igbana and Imole-Bo Ja Rock Shelter in Kajola community, could not visit Owu waterfalls due to deplorable conditions of roads leading to the tourist site.

He called for the upgrading of tourist sites in the district, saying that infrastructural facilities like roads, hotel facilities and sporting facilities should be provided to encourage tourism.

“One of the most important thing to human is History, this will make us cherish and appreciate our past. I visited the tourist places in my constituency and I marvel to see wonders in nature” he said.