Nigerians and the global community can now explore the country’s rich cultural heritage from anywhere in the world, thanks to the launch of Nigeria’s first National Digital Museum. The groundbreaking initiative, unveiled yesterday at a glamorous ceremony in Lagos, marks a major leap in the digitization of the nation’s arts, monuments, and artifacts.
The National Digital Museum is a collaborative effort between IHS Nigeria and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy. The project is the flagship initiative of the NCMM’s Digital Culture Initiative, and is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at expanding access to Nigeria’s cultural assets.
“Today is a proud moment for us,” said Mohamad Darwish, CEO of IHS Nigeria. “This effort not only preserves and promotes Nigeria’s cultural heritage but makes it globally accessible. It reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, education, and cultural preservation.”
The digital museum houses over 200 antiquities from the National Museum in Lagos, each 3D scanned and embedded in an immersive virtual environment, complete with educational content and detailed descriptions. It is free to access and available to all through the NCMM website at www.museum.ng.
In her remarks, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, described the launch as a “transformative milestone”, noting that for the first time, authentic Nigerian antiquities are available in a modern, digital format for global exploration.
“This initiative not only preserves our heritage but projects Nigeria’s cultural legacy onto the global stage,” Musawa said. “It exemplifies how public-private partnerships can foster innovation, cultural pride, and a stronger creative economy.”
Olugbile Holloway, Director General of NCMM, added that the platform was developed to reach younger, tech-savvy audiences, aiming to ignite a renewed interest in museum culture.
“This is just the beginning. We plan to grow the digital repository, adding more artifacts and stories over time,” Holloway said. “Thanks to IHS Nigeria for making this vision a reality.”
The launch was celebrated with vibrant cultural performances and was attended by dignitaries, cultural stakeholders, and members of the public. It marks a new era for Nigeria’s museums and represents a model for other nations seeking to preserve and share their heritage through digital innovation.
Reporting by Innocent Onoh