BRIEF REPORT ON THE OPENING CEREMONY OF PICTORIAL EXHIBITION OF NIGERIA 100 YEARS AGO THROUGH
THE EYES OF LEO FROBEN1US AND HIS EXPEDITION TEAM. HELD ON 9
TH
NOVEMBER 2010, AT LAMIDO ZUBAIRU
EDUCATION CENTER YOLA.
Leo Frobenius a German Ethnologist travelled far and wide in his desire to explore the rich culture of Africa and
Nigeria happened to be his point of call where he visited Yoruba land, Nupeland, Tiv, and to the Northeast Adamawa. In his
sojourn with his expedition team, they collected over 3,000 pictorial documents representing the rich cultural values of
Adamawa, but these pictures could not be accessed by the public due to some reasons that might be connected with politics.
The pictorial exhibition had received well publicity in Adamawa State where posters of the exhibition were placed at
strategic locations ranging from the entrance gate of the State, higher institutions of learning media houses, jimeta and Yola
town, the venue of the opening ceremony was not left out i.e. Lamido Zubairu Education where in itself happened to be an
educational center and beehive of educational and business activities is going on the Federal Secretariat complex a banner was
mounted at the entrance gate boldly written on it was the theme of the exhibition, local media houses were paid to advertise
also on their daily schedules of activities Schools and sister organizations of government were not left out, security operators
also made their presence known at the venue.
The opening ceremony was well attended with important personalities including the Galadima of Adamawa Alhaji
Murtala Aminu (OFR) who was the special guest of Honour during the occasion, Deputy Director in the Commission Dr. A.
B. Areo who represented the Director General National Commission for Museums & Monuments, State coordinator Raw
Material Research & Development Council, State Coordinator Nigerian Shippers Council, Site Manager (Sukur World
Heritage Site), principals of Secondary Schools, representative of higher level of learning, the security operatives namely
Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) just to mention a few and the general
public.
In his welcome address the Curator National Museum Yola Mal. Inuwa Babantata welcomed everyone and gave an
insight about the whole programme where he enumerated the importance of the Museum as an educational and research
institution in which different Scholar had made their fame in Nigeria Cultural values the Western world were not left out in
exploring, discovering and making Nigeria Cultures a well-known investment to the point of making Nigeria a Tourist haven.
After his speech the guest of Honour in person of Alhaji Murtala Aminu (OFR) the Galadima of Adamawa took his time to
make a remark on the cultural heritage of the Adamawa people (the Tchambas, Fulani etc) he commended these explorers
especially Leo Frobenius and his expedition team for a well-documented pictorial exhibition about some cultures of the
Adamawa people. There after the representative of the Director General Dr. A.B. Areo mounted the podium, in his speech he
commended these explorers and their quest to make Africa a place to reckon with in history through its landmark
achievements as a center of civilization where he said presently German Scholars are undergoing a research work in Kwoi
LGA of Kaduna State where the NOK culture was discovered.
After all these speeches, observations and comments were invited from the audience, a number of questions were
raised ranging from expeditions and exploitations. In answering the question the Curator National Museums Yola, accurately
and correctly answered questions from expedition that were raised by the audience, the guest of Honour Alhaji Murtala
Aminu (OFR) Galadima Adamawa also proved himself to be a scholar of well reputation, the representative of the Director
General Dr. A.B Arco also commented on the questions that were raised. The programme was well attended as the
photographs portrays. After everything was said and done at the venue of the opening ceremony the people departed to the
federal Secretariat complex where the exhibition was mounted, there also the Galadima Adamawa, Alhaji Murtala Aminu
(OFR) declared the exhibition opened. The Curator National Museum Yola, Mai. Inuwa Babantata led the delegation to the
pictorial exhibition explaining each picture and its significance to the people, where the delegation did not understand he
explained and everybody was well satisfied.
Mention must also be made about the media houses that covered the events, Radio Gotel, Adamawa Television (ATV),
Radio Nigeria even the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) were not left out they greatly supported and made the public
to develop much interest about the rich cultural values of this great country Nigeria. In fact, even before daybreak, the news
of the programme took the air with Radio Nigeria making the first broadcast, BBC Hausa service also took theirs, and the
local television station Adamawa Television (ATV) also played it in their schedule for the day.
In conclusion the pictorial exhibition of Nigeria 100 years ago through the eyes of Leo Frobenius and his expedition
team had received a well publicity and important personalities graced the occasion, some by themselves while others their
representatives, higher educational institutions, Secondary Schools were also not left out to crown it all the general public
also took interest in the exhibition learning greatly from the pictorial exhibition, suffice it to say that this programme was the
first of its kind in the State even the Galadima Adamawa, Alhaji Murtala Aminu (OFR) attested to that point.
The management and staff of the National Commission for Museums & Monuments were commended in making the
programme to be a memorable one while creating a lasting image in the memories of those who took part in the exhibition
and also reemphasizing the activities of the Commission. Leo Frobenius and his expedition team were commended for a job
well done by acquiring over 3,000 pictures about Nigeria and its culture, the institute and the people of Germany with other
explorers were also commended in their effort to showcase the rich cultural values of Nigeria. Mention must also be made
about Industrial Training Students from the State Polytechnic Yola whom also devoted their time and efforts to make the
programme a remarkable and successful one.