The Cross River State Government has been commended for the establishment and relinquishing of the Slave History Museum to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to boost Tourism Development in the State.

The Director-General and Chief Executive of the Commission, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman made the Commendation at the official commissioning of the Museum in Calabar recently.

Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman noted that the Commission has worked tirelessly to fulfill her obligation by upgrading the Museum to a specialized Museum as it will serve as a rallying point for Africans in Diaspora to better embrace their cultural heritage.

According to the Director-General, Calabar played a major role in the slave trade era as one of the major slave trading centre with the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Germans and English slave merchants.

The Museum Chief described the collections in the Slave History Museum as a treasure house for Africans in diaspora, tourists and researchers who wish to learn the patrimony of South eastern Nigeria in general and Calabar in particular.

He stated that the National Commission for Museums and Monuments is proud to be identified with the State Government to develop the Tourism Sector, stating that the Commission as an agency responsible for the preservation, conservation, promotion and presentation of our tangible resources will not relent in its efforts in the pursuit of nominating the Oban hills as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the restoration of "Chief Ekpo Ekpo Bassey House" to accommodate the proposed Missionary Museum in Calabar.

Respoonding, the representative of the State Governor, Mr.Gabe Onah, who is the Special Adviser on Tourism Development in the State, stated that the establishment of the Slave History Museum is one of the high points of Tourism Initiative in Cross River State.

He said the Museum was handed over to the NCMM as a professional outfil that will be able to manage and showcase the collections to the world. Mr. Gabe Onah declared that the state government is ready to develop more tourism sites to ensure that more sites in the state are listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Earlier, the state Managing Director of Tourism Bureau, Mr. Michael Williams disclosed that the Bureau is ready to collaborate with the Commission to market and showcase the Slave History Museum to the outside world. He said this had become necessary in view of the role played by Calabar during the slave trade era as it will attract our brothers in diaspora to come and appreciate the collections in the museum.

Various speakers at the Commissioning ceremony applauded the efforts of the State Government for the laudable project, they urged the NCMM to manage and maintain the newly established museum with the professional expertise it is known for.

High point of the event was the official Commissioning of the Slave History Museum by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism Development, Mr. Gabe Onah.