Director-General of National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Yusman Abdallah Yusuf, has said that cultural sector will enhance growth of nation's economy if culture is harnessed through proper funding and development of the creative and cultural infrastructure.

Speaking at the opening  of an exhibition, entitled: Nigerian Governments, Classical Artworks and Pottery, organised by the Kwara State's NCMM office in Ilorin, the Director- General also said that promotion of culture would contribute to the bonding of different multi-ethnic groups, thus, leading to peace and unity in the country.

Represented by the Director, Research Planning and Publication, Dr. Musa Hambolu, he said the exhibition presented pictorial representations of several ancient extraordinary works of art created through skills and ingenuity of unlettered but highly intelligent traditional craftsmen.

He also said that the artworks were made in their physical forms, using different media, which included iron, bronzes, wood, stones, terracota and clay materials.

"It is worth noting that some of these works are either ethnographic materials which have been used in ritual or ceremonial events, thus having cultural and historical importance for the society from which they came or may be archaeological materials discovered and excavated by archaeologists.

Museums today have become more relevant to societal needs through their programmes, what they keep and exhibit to the larger society. Through studies, museums have attempted to reconcile and relate many cultures which in time past look distant, distinct and were separated from one another. Through objects and different collections, seemingly disjointed aspects of history have been reconciled, errors and fallacy of history corrected which could have, otherwise, been detrimental to growth and development of the society," he said.   

Also speaking, the Curator of the Ilorin NCMM office, Ms. Tayo Adeboye, urged every Nigerian to always find time to visit the museum, not just individuals, but with family members and friends, saying that, "you will surely be informed, educated, and entertained by the various well researched exhibition packages often on display."

She said that the exhibition was capable of inspiring many to look forward to a transformed and united nation in tune with the thought of  forbearers and also cherish  cultural heritage.