The National Commission for Museums and Monuments, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan during the 2023 International Museum Day celebration awarded The Most Famous Twins in African Tourism, Ambassador Taiwo and Kehinde OGUNTOYE as International Cultural Ambassadors.
The Twins who are the Initiators of Famous World Twins Festival and Founders of Twins Tourism were honoured at the celebration which was held at the Oba Alado Awaye’s Hall of the Museum in Ibadan under the chairmanship of Nigerian Former Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador Dr. Yemi Farounbi with the theme: Museums, Sustainability and Well being.
While addressing the audience, Dr. Farounbi challenge the participating school students to be in-charge of their today as leaders of tomorrow and not to throw away the cultural values, objects in museum exhibition is teaching. He emphatically demonstrated to the participants great lessons the conserved last car of the late Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Ladoke Akintola can teach them about greatness.
Earlier, in his opening remark, the Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof. Abba Isa Tijani who was represented by the curator,and deputy director, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Mrs Oriyomi Pamela Otuka stated that through the years, International Museum Day has become a veritable avenue to advocate for the role of museums in the society. He further said that the theme for the year’s Museum Day has opened up huge possibilities for museums and cultural organizations to engage with the health and well-being of society.
Highlights of the 2023 International Museum day celebration were the presentation of awards in acknowledgement of immense contribute to culture and African tradition which was presented to Ambassador Dr. Yemi Farounbi, Alhaja Romoke Ayinde , Karamat Ajala , Ajibola Ogunkeyede and Ambassadors Taiwo and Kehinde OGUNTOYE as International Cultural Ambassadors.
Other activities at the event included cultural performance by Ogere Community High School, Inter Schools quiz competition , cutting of the International Museum Day celebration cake among others.
In attendance were team from American Space Ibadan, Nigeria Association of French Teachers, Museum Society of Nigeria, Friends of the Museum, selected secondary schools among others.