Today, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, inaugurated the renovated Vlekete Slave Market Museum in Badagry. The Governor stated at the opening ceremony that his government implemented the Museum project to promote tourism in the State, and that it was well-planned to achieve the goals of the Entertainment and Tourism pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Sherifat Folashade Jaji, provided an overview of the relics and artefacts in the newly commissioned Museum, adding that it contains galleries as well as information on slavery and the slave trade.
In his words: “The Museum also houses a replica of the Slave Punishment Centre showing the manner of treatment and inhuman punishment that those captured and tagged as slaves were subjected to as a result of their disobedience against their owners and the slave masters. There is also the replica of slave tunnel where slaves were temporarily kept after capture before being shipped to their masters or owners”.
In her opening address, the Honorable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, expressed optimism that the renovation of the slave market museum will establish Badagry as a premier destination for tourism, relaxation, and historical education.
She urged the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM), and the National Commission on Museums and Monuments (NCMM) to support the Slave Market Museum through Registration, Publicity, and Worldwide recognition in order to boost the tourism industry in Lagos State.
Akinbile-Yussuf also urged the Chiefs and Leaders of the Badagry communities to defend the monuments, relics, and historical pieces, as well as the museum, with a view to preserving the infrastructures as they continue to attract attention to Badagry.
Also speaking at the inauguration was the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for West-Sahel Africa, who was represented by the Culture Programme Specialist for the UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja, Mr. Delanghe Philippe. He stated that the organisation believed that ignorance or concealment of significant historical events impeded mutual understanding, reconciliation, and cooperation between people.
In the same way that he commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for the commendable project of establishing ‘Vlekete’ the Slave Market Museum, he noted that museums play crucial roles in the socio-economic development of member states, ranging from educational institutions to tourist destinations with the potential to generate revenue.
Prof. Abba Isa Tijani, Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), indicated in his contribution that the Commission’s primary functions are to collect, document, conserve and preserve, and administer heritage treasures.
He explained that the organisation also presents monuments and museums to the public for the goals of Education, Enlightenment, and Recreation.
Olagunju Idowu, the Secretary-General of the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, praised the Lagos State Government for keeping history alive and pledged to continue working with the State.
Idowu stated that the refurbishment of the Museum would go a long way toward establishing a better future for Nigerians by connecting the past to the present.
Mr. Fatai Oluwa, Chairman of the House Committee on Tourism; Mr. Olufemi Martins, Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture; and Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, Permanent Secretary, are amongst the senior government officials present at the event.