When you hear the word “Museum”, what image comes to your mind?
Yes! A room full of art works and monumental pieces that have lasted through the sands of time and gone down in history. This was most likely the expectation of the minister for Information and Culture; Hon. Alhaji Lai Mohammed when he visited the Discovery Museum on the 18th of September 2020. Along with him was his entourage which also included the D.G NCMM; Prof Abba Issa Tijani.
On his tour of the Civic foundation- he saw everything the remarkable space is set to be; housing initiatives such as the civic innovation lab, Lagos bistro restaurant and most exceptionally the foundations’ new ‘baby’– the Discovery museum.
At the end of the enlightening, fun and interactive tour, the honourable minister finally understood what was meant by the term “Virtual Reality”, having witnessed this ‘digital museum’ firsthand. It was sheer satisfaction hearing as he attested to the great things that were being done in the space- and knowing that he left us more enlightened and open minded than he arrived.
The discovery museum is a digital one with virtual reality components-which uses technology to steer experiences. The minister and the DG were first to experience this modernism having visited the experience centre of the museum at about 2:00pm last Friday. He saw the documentation and perseverance of Nigerian history, our data and information past, present and even future.
The honourable minister for Information and culture had the unique experience of ‘living’ the CHIBOK GIRLS STORY-through our immersive technology, which absolutely knocked his socks off. He was surprised as to how real and impacting the event because of the means by which he lived it–“it is almost as if I were there” he said as the room exploded with laughter and chuckles.
By means of virtual reality, we took him to Borno state- while still seated in Abuja. This is how the museum is set to operate and engage its visitors, partners and stakeholders- together with other interactive activities set up all over the establishment.
More so, We were privileged to have a sit down with the minister after the tour- where he answered a few questions as to what the current administration was doing in the areas of information- entertainment and the budding tourism sector- buttressing that this new and interactive museum-an arm of the Civic foundation is set to play a vital role in pivoting the nations tourism industry with its technological facilitiesbeing a hot-bed for Art, Creativity, Innovation and a lot more – capable of making historical experiences tangible- such that one can see, feel and almost even touch.
The honourable minister and Prof Abba Issa Tijani both explored the various bits that will make this new space and were super impressed by it.
We absolutely enjoyed their time with us and we look forward to a really exciting future just as he also is looking forward to being back for the opening of the incredible space and doing things with the foundation through the ministry for a better Nigeria.
