The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it is in the process of putting in place a Virtual Currency Museum Gallery.
CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, disclosed this at the International Museums Day (IMD) celebration, in Abuja, Nigeria
He said the virtual museum would enable members of the public to access the currency museum from the comfort of their homes, without having to travel to the physical museum located at the bank’s headquarters in Abuja.
“Thanks to technology, the Central Bank of Nigeria Currency Museum is working in collaboration with Google and our in-house Information Technology Department (|TD) to establish a Virtual Reality Museum.
“This is an approach to connect with the global world for the public to sit back and relax within their comfort zone and view the artefacts on display.”
He added that “works of art can speak so eloquently about what makes us human, what connects and divides us, what inspires and provokes us and how vital the impulse to make and create has always been across time and geographic boundaries.”
He acknowledged that technology has helped museums in reaching beyond core audience to new publics, a development he said has been shown in digitisation of collections, virtual tours or something as simple as a hashtag that allows visitors to share their experiences on social media.
Also speaking, the Director, Currency Operations of the CBN, Mr. Ahmed Umar said that museums’ vast collections offer almost infinite opportunities to share with visitors, “the ways in which the past informs the present and how the issues of the present can make the past relevant again.”
Mr. Umar added; “Works of art can speak so eloquently about what makes us human, what connects and divides us, what inspires and provokes us and how vital the impulse to make and create has always been across time and geographic boundaries. I believe this kind of perspective is one of the deep-seated needs of our society.
“Museums play an important role in the society.”
The Director, Museums, National Commission for Museums and monuments, Mr Gimba Abdul Mohammed explained that objects ofl historical importance are stored scientifically in a well-managed and secured area to keep them safe from humidity, light, natural hazard, fire, etc.
“Without Museums, all these things that we have today would have gone and that is why we say both physical and virtual museum work in synergy because without a physical museum there will be no virtual and sometimes, we need the virtual museum because of the kind of country we are,” he remarked at the event.
The objective of the International Museum Day is to raise awareness that museums are important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among people. The theme for this year’s IMD is titled “Museums, Sustainability and Well-being”.
