NCMM SHINES @ NIGERIA'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAND EXHIBITION

15th September 2010 marked the opeing ceremony of perhaps one of the best coordinated National cultural exhibitions purposely put together to commemorate Nigeria's 50th anniversary of independent nationhood.

Prior to this day, a team of experts from major art/culture sectors of the country had been working for months with the sub-committee on exhibition for Nigeria at 50. This sub-committee headed by the Director of Culture, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. George Ufot as Chairman and his team, drawn from several institutions including the military.

Three Curators were appointed to superintend and curate the exhibition; they are our own Director of Museums, Nath Mayo Adediran representing the Governmental Institutions; Prof. Jerry Buhari representing Academic Institutions and Mr. Uwa Usen, representing the Private bodies.

The Curators designed the layout through briefs that was given to the group of Arhitect, Engineers and Surveyors to re-model the Velodrome of Abuja National Stadium from a sport arena into a useable gallery. The design included the taming of the elements (wind, light and rain). Close circuit televisions (cctv) were provided to monitor the open arean and provide adequate security for the objects. Security peronnel drawn from the Nigerian Police, the Civil Defence and Private Security organizations were brought in to protect the objects twenty four hours a day for the whole period.

When the exhibition was finally staged, the stand for NCMM was situated at the centre of the Velodrme, giving it is prominence as the temple from where the inspiration for the modern was drawn. The space was aout 20 metres by 15 metres and beautifully walled and partitioned into four sections (two for the classical works of art and the other two for the masterpieces of the living art).

The Museum exhibited over one hundred (100) artifacts, and most prominent among them is the Rafin Kura Nok head discovered in 1934 and dated 2500 years, strategically placed at the entrance because of its significance in find and in make. This was followed chronologically by other Nigerian classical artifacts from different parts of the country.

Visitors to the Velodrome from September 15, to October 31, were treated to a very relaxing environment where they enjoyed the display of Nigeria's contemporary art works to historical photographs, Naval antique equipments, craft, historical books, ethnographic materials, and ancient artifacts.

Most spectacular among the display the NCMM brought in was the Queen Elizabeth bronze cast done by Ben Enwonwu in 1957, and later donated tothe comission. The 20-ton sculpture travelled over 800 kilometers from Lagos to Abuja and was strategically positioned at the centre of the exhibition.

Visitors at the exhibition included Prime Ministers, Ambassadors, Scholars, Art historians and Nigerians in Diaspora who flew in from all over the world to celebrate Nigeria's golden jubilee.