Coordinator artistes’ Village wants FG to establish more monuments

The Coordinator, Artists’ Village, National Theatre, Lagos, Chief Babatope Babayemi on Tuesday urged the government to establish more significant monuments and sites that represents the nation’s rich history.

Babayemi spoke to our correspondent on the sideline of the commemoration of International Day of Monuments and Sites with the theme, “Cultural heritage and sustainable Tourism“ in Lagos.

According to Babayemi, monuments by nature do not belong to only one generation; they belong to all generations including the generation unborn so should be durable and explicit.

“Government should look into establishing and creating monuments that tell the story of the people for the history of the future generations, monuments are equal to public arts,“ he said.

He said that there was need for significant monuments and artifacts that could rival the Trafalgar Square in Westminster, with lions and stone symbols, and the Madam Tussaud in London.

He said that government had a responsibility to develop public arts with history and stories, adding that they should beef up the existing ones in the country and establish more sites.

“The government should establish more significant sites with magnificent sizes and durable materials that will last centuries before renovation and not ones with short lives span.

“The manufacturers should play less emphasis on cement fabricated arts and monuments, instead, they should concentrate on marbles that tell history and tradition of the people longer than estimated, “ Babayemi said.

He said that there was need to have a link between the contemporary and the traditional arts and artifacts for continuity of history that would live beyond centuries.

Our correspondent reports that April 18, is observed annually as International Day of Monuments and Sites which focuses on how to protect and conserve the monuments and sites across the globe.

The celebration was approved by the 22nd United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Conference in 1983.

Some sites and monuments in Nigeria include; Ogbunike Cave, Oyi, in Anambra state, Kano City Wall, Oban Hills in Cross River State and Erin Ijesha waterfalls, Osun state.

Others were, Oban Hills and Associated Cultural Landscape, Cross River State; Ogba Ukwu Cave and Waterfalls, Anambra State, Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River State, and latest Tinubu square in Lagos.