Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially opened the J Randle Museum Centre in Onikan, Lagos Island, emphasizing the state’s role as a hub for tourism, music, film, art, and culture in Africa.
The museum, which showcases historical, artistic, and cultural artifacts of the Yoruba people, is an integral part of the Centre, commissioned last year. During the opening, Sanwo-Olu announced the appointment of Mr. Qudus Onikeku as the Centre’s Director.
In an interactive session with creative stakeholders, Sanwo-Olu expressed the importance of enhancing private sector participation in the creative industry. He stated that his administration aims to foster an enabling environment for all stakeholders, positioning Lagos as a premier destination for tourism, art, and culture in Africa and beyond.
Highlighting the significance of cultural inheritance, Sanwo-Olu stressed the need to pass on Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to future generations. He said, “We need to bring back that inheritance and ensure that we work with everyone to showcase our culture to the world.”
The Governor described the J Randle Museum as a historic site that will serve as a platform for discussing Nigeria’s history and culture. He urged other museums holding artifacts to repatriate them to their original locations, underscoring the importance of returning Yoruba cultural treasures to strengthen the region’s heritage.
Sanwo-Olu also criticized the diminishing use of local dialects in schools, linking it to broader cultural challenges. He affirmed that the J Randle Centre is crucial for connecting Nigeria’s past, present, and future, further enriching the state’s cultural landscape.
