The Federal Government, through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), has pledged to collaborate with the Vernacular Heritage Initiative (VHI) in efforts to protect and preserve national monuments across the country.
NCMM’s Director-General, Olugbile Holloway, reaffirmed this commitment in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving project reports and a model of the Egbo Egbo Bassey House from VHI representative Dr. Obafemi Olukoya.
Originally designated a National Monument in 1959, the Egbo Egbo Bassey House has been the focus of extensive architectural research and documentation since March 2024, with support from the Gerda Henkel Stiftung.
Holloway commended the VHI team for their dedication to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage and acknowledged the critical role played by the foundation in funding the initiative.
“The work done here is nothing short of remarkable,” he said. “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.”
Presenting the project report and model, Olukoya emphasized its significance in conserving a vital piece of Nigeria’s history.
He described the model as “the Bible of Egbo Egbo Bassey House,” underscoring the depth of research and documentation involved. Additionally, he unveiled a scaled model of the monument, offering a visual representation of its historical and architectural value.
Olukoya also acknowledged the financial and technical contributions of Gerda Henkel Stiftung, noting that the next phase of the project—focused on stabilizing the structure—had been successfully secured with additional funding.
He announced that his team would travel to the site on Tuesday to initiate the next stage of restoration.
“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.
