The National Commission for Museums and Monuments, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan during the 2023 International Museum Day celebration, named Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye as International Cultural Ambassadors.
The twins, who are the initiators of the World Twins Festival and founders of Twins Tourism, were honoured at the celebration, which was held at the Oba Alado Awaye’s Hall of the museum in Ibadan under the chairmanship of Yemi Farounbi, Nigerian former ambassador to the Philippines.
While addressing the audience, Farounbi challenged the participating students to be in-charge of their today as leaders of tomorrow and not to throw away the cultural values and objects the museum exhibition is teaching. He emphatically demonstrated to the participants great lessons the conserved last car of Chief Ladoke Akintola, the late Premier of Western Nigeria, can teach them about greatness.
Earlier, in his opening remark, Abba Isa Tijani, director general, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, , who was represented by Oriyomi Pamela Otuka, curator, and deputy director, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, stated that through the years, International Museum Day has become a veritable avenue to advocate for the role of museums in the society. He further said that the theme for the year’s Museum Day ‘Museums, Sustainability and Well being’, has opened up huge possibilities for museums and cultural organizations to engage with the health and well-being of society.
The highlight of the 2023 International Museum day celebration were the presentation of awards in acknowledgement of immense contribute to culture and African tradition which was presented to Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, Romoke Ayinde, Karamat Ajala, Ajibola Ogunkeyede and Ambassadors Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye as International Cultural Ambassadors.
Other activities at the event included cultural performance by Ogere Community High School, Inter Schools quiz competition, cutting of the International Museum Day celebration cake among others.
In attendance were; Nigeria Association of French Teachers, a team from American Space Ibadan, Museum Society of Nigeria, Friends of the Museum, selected secondary schools among others.
