?The Executive Director, National Council for Arts and Culture,?Mr Mwajim Maidugu, ?on Thursday in Abuja described President Goodluck Jonathan's proposed museum for past leaders as an inspiration to Nigerians.?
Maidugu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN that building a museum for past leaders was a great innovation?in the history of the country.?
According to him, this pronouncement will go a long way to give our past and present heroes a proper place for reference purposes and to project into the future.?
“These leaders need to be celebrated in a hall of fame for students at all levels to emulate these good leadership qualities of tolerance, patience and patriotism.?
“Thinking more of what to do for the country and not what to get out of the country. Reading about great leaders will inculcate good leadership qualities in the youth,’’ he said.?
Maidugu said that in developed countries, museum for past leaders was a good tourist site to behold, adding that reading through the lifestyle of past leaders would give a mental picture of a good leader.?
He said that stakeholders in the sector were looking forward to the actualisation of the project that would serve as a reference point for Nigeria and Africa considering that Nigeria had a key role in the development of Africa.?
Mr Ralpa Wilcox, Assistant Director Culture, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, commended the president for the venture, adding that the statement was a step to meet with international practice.?
He said a museum for past leaders was an international standard practice to honour and constantly keep alive the life and time of past heroes.?
“There is always a museum for past leaders the world over to immortalise them so that anyone who want to carry out research on issues concerning them can do so with ease.?
Wilcox said the museum would serve as a one-stop shop for both the present and past leaders and an opportunity to honour them.
Meanwhile, a cross section of Nigerians said on Thursday that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to build presidential museum in honour of past presidents in the country was a welcome development.
Those who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said it was a good step in the right direction which would put the country on the side of history.
Mr Philemon Ajide, an Ibadan based businessman, said it was expedient for the country that such a museum was thought of by the president, adding that it would help?Nigerians to recognise their past.
?“I salute the effort of the president, because there cannot be the present, without the past and most of our past presidents contributed in one way or the other ?and it is needful for them to be recognised.“
He said the monument would give the country a sense of history where the upcoming generation could learn from.
Mr Samuel Davis, a civil servant in Abuja, said the museum would enable Nigerians to know their past and brace for the future.
He urged the Federal Government to ensure it documented necessary information that would not be misleading to the upcoming generation.
Christiana Sunday, a student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, lauded the decision, adding that it would serve as tourist attraction which could improve on the socio-economic situation of the country.
She said she was looking forward to the museum, stating that she had always wanted to know the contribution of past presidents she had no privilege of meeting.
“I want to know more about Gen.Yakubu Gowon, Gen Muritala Muhammed, President Shehu Shagari because I was not born then, “ she said.
Mr Oluremi Adedayo, Director, Monuments, Heritage and Sites, National Commission for Museum and Monument (NCMM) said it was a good gesture and should be welcomed by all Nigerians.
He, however, declined further comment, saying the commission had not been briefed and the nature of the presidential museum had not been communicated to the commission.
NAN reports that NCMM is the body saddled with the responsibility of keeping and maintaining monuments and heritage sites.
Jonathan had in his May 29 Democracy Day broadcast said it would build a presidential museum that would serve as an historical monument for the past and present leaders of the country.(NAN)