The United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr Ben Liewllyn-Jones, has lauded the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) legacy documentation for enhancing preservation of relics to enrich scholarship on the gradual development of rail system.
Liewllyn-Jones made the commendations during a workshop with the Theme: “Nigeria Digital Documentation Partnership”, organized to promote the UK-Nigeria share heritage in the railway sector, held in Lagos at his residence on Monday.
According to him, the collaboration between the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Legacy Museum, Oxford University and Heritage Group will enhance preservation of relics that will enrich scholarship of the gradual development of rail system.
He said that the digital heritage project, which was funded by UK research partner in Nigeria, would be documented and record railway history in ways which were local to each area in Nigeria.
Liewllyn-Jones said the project was coming at a time when Nigeria was redeveloping its rail network.
In his opening remarks, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, who was represented by Director Corporate Planning, NRC, Mr James Zang, commended the British High Commissioner for hosting the talk-shop on Legacy Museum.
Okhiria said that the workshop would ginger the management in doing everything possible to assist the museum as the curators of NRC Artifacts to succeed.
The NRC MD also commended the effort of the Jaekal House toward digitalizing assets including the Railway Building, Workshop, Locomotive, Wagons, Coaches, Operational Materials and pictures.
Also speaking at the event, the Research Coordinator on the project, Olly Owens, appreciated staff of NRC , architects, photographers for their roles which led to the actualization of the research.
Owens further explained that the research came when Nigeria was developing its rail network and connecting the people as well as the places which could not just be educating but served as material resources for cultural and tourism.
In his address, the Legacy Museum Vice-President, Taiye Olaneye, said showcasing the project was a forum for cross fertilization of ideas in appreciation of Nigerian cultural heritage.
According to Olaneye, it will in future become a center of research to students and academia.
