Pet Project: Miss Bantu Pageant International ends 3 Day Museum Tour and Exhibition in Grand Style

A museum is said to be an institution dedicated to displaying or preserving culturally or scientifically significant objects.

On this note, Miss Bantu Pageant International under the umbrella of Bantu Ibom Museum Limited few weeks ago, embarked on a 3 Day Museum Tour and Exhibition with the theme "Memories of Ibom Glorious Past and Present Day"

The event which was held at Bantu Ibom Museum, Admin Block, Raffia Arts and Crafts Processing Zone, Ikot Inyang, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State featured public lectures, book exhibition and museum tour as well as cultural display.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Conceptualizer, Rt. Hon. Patty Etete Inemeh; former federal house member representing, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara Federal constituency stressed the importance of investing in the creative industries to include job creation, national identity and pride as well as increased gross domestic products (GDP), economic growth and stability. 

He also noted that most economies that commands global industrial influence in the contemporary world invested resources in the development of their cultural heritage including their local arts industry, farming and ecological inventions to boost tourism, trade and other hospitality transactions. 

While delivering his public lecture on the topic: The Role of Museum in Community Development; the curator and assistant director of National Museum, Uyo; Mr. Okokon Bongo Bassey eulogized that findings have proven that Cultural Heritage Museums thus play a major role in the development on community as in, impacting on education in providing learning means to schools and local communities on their cultural identity and its power, in socio-economy as secondarily improving economic growth through tourism.

Mr. Bassey also added that Museums play a vital role in community development by acting as cultural anchors, educational hubs, and economic drivers. 

Lastly, he summarized by saying that museums preserve and promote heritage, foster social cohesion, and contribute to economic growth through tourism and job creation.

Also in attendance was CSP Edet Joseph Ikon; 2nd in command representing the Area Commander, Ikot Ekpene Area Command, Nseobong Ikon; Head of Gallery, National Museum Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Joseph Ita Okon; HOD Documentation; National Museum, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Aniekan Etudor; representing Director of Arts and Culture, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Itoro Ekanem, Bantu Royalties, the Youth President of Ikot Inyang Village and dwellers of Ikot Inyang Village.

The Children were not left out as they received gift items from the Queens.