Experts from the British Museum and University of Oxford have visited the Nigerian Railway Corporation Legacy Museum to explore collaboration on preserving Nigeria’s railway heritage.
Focus on Restoration and Knowledge Sharing
The team, led by anthropologist Paul Bagu, toured key sections of the museum.
They inspected the historic Old Running Shed, where ageing locomotives and coaches are kept.
Bagu expressed strong interest in restoring the old equipment. He stressed the need for global partnerships to preserve them.
‘A Valuable Cultural Repository’
Bagu described the museum as an important part of Nigeria’s industrial and cultural history.
“The NRC Legacy Museum represents a valuable repository of Nigeria’s history. There is strong potential for collaboration in conservation and restoration,” he said.
He added that shared railway history between Britain and Nigeria creates an opportunity for meaningful partnerships.
Lessons from Sierra Leone Initiative
Bagu pointed to a railway heritage project in Freetown as an example.
He said local commitment helped revive and sustain the museum there. He encouraged similar efforts in Nigeria.
NRC Museum Seeks Global Partnerships
The President of the museum complex, Taye Olaniyi, welcomed the delegation.
He also praised retired director Nate Adediron for supporting the museum’s development.
Olaniyi said the visit highlights the value of international collaboration in building a world-class heritage centre.
Historic Link to Queen Elizabeth II
A key highlight of the visit was discussions about a historic coach used by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Nigeria.
Experts noted that such artefacts reflect the long-standing ties between Britain and Nigeria’s railway system.
Towards a Leading Heritage Destination
The visit marks a major step toward global cooperation in preserving Nigeria’s railway history.
It also supports efforts to position the NRC Legacy Museum as a top heritage destination in Africa.
