Federal Gov’t Partners VHI On Development Of National Monuments

The federal government through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments has pledged to collaborate with the Vernacular Heritage Initiative (VHI) in the development of national monuments nationwide.

Director general of the commission, Olugbile Holloway made the pledge the representative of VHI, Dr Obafemi Olukoya handed over the Egbo Egbo Bassey House Project reports and model to him in Abuja.

The Egbo Egbo Bassey House, a National Monument since 1959, had been the focus of meticulous architectural documentation and research since March 2024, with funding from Gerda Henkel Stiftung.

Holloway who expressed delight with the scope and dedication of the project team, appreciated Olukoya and lauded Henkel Stiftung for his unwavering commitment to the preservation of Nigerian cultural heritage.

“The work done here is nothing short of remarkable. It is our hope that this partnership will endure for many years to come so that more heritage sites across Nigeria can receive the attention and restoration they truly deserve,” he said.

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Presenting the report and model, the VHI representative, said the project marked a significant step in the preservation and restoration of one of Nigeria’s esteemed heritage sites.

He dubbed the model as “the Bible of Egbo Egbo Bassey House” saying it is a testament to the exhaustive research and documentation that had gone into the initiative.

Olukoya also presented a meticulously crafted real-life model of the monument which offered the commission a tangible representation of the site’s structure and historical essence.

He expressed profound gratitude to Gerda Henkel Stiftung, whose funding and commitment made the project a reality and informed the commission leadership of the successful outcome of an application for the stabilisation of the Egbo Egbo Bassey House, a critical next step in ensuring its structural integrity and continued preservation.

He also announced that his team would be heading to the project site to commence the next phase of restoration work, which has equally been funded by Gerda Henkel Stiftung.

“This next step promises to reinforce the site’s historical and architectural significance while paving the way for future conservation efforts.

“As the team gears up to commence the next phase of work at the Egbo Egbo Bassey House, the event at the NCMM headquarters stands as a defining moment in the journey toward safeguarding Nigeria’s rich historical legacy,” Olukoya added.