Top 10 Best Museums In Nigeria (2024)

Museums house and display precious works of art, scientific specimens, and other objects of permanent significance. They house a people’s very important history and preserve their cultural heritage for future generations. In a nutshell, museums transport us back in time to help us appreciate the past, understand the present, and look forward to the future. If you have ever wanted to visit a museum and you are not sure which ones are close to you, we have compiled in this article the top 10 best and most popular museums in Nigeria this 2024 and their locations.

TOP 10 BEST MUSEUMS IN NIGERIA AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED 2024 

Below are the top 10 best museums in Nigeria 2024 and their locations:

NATIONAL MUSEUM, ONIKAN, LAGOS

Onikan on Lagos Island is home to the National Museum, Lagos. Historical artefacts have been preserved there ever since it opened its doors in 1957. It is one of the museums in Nigeria with an extensive collection of artwork, archaeological finds, and ethnographic displays. You instantly feel a connection to history when you visit this museum. The vehicle belonging to General Murtala Muhammad, a former Head of State of Nigeria, is also housed in the museum. The Mercedes Benz saloon car, which has bullet holes marking Murtala’s 1976 assassination, is still being preserved in its original black colour.

JOS MUSEUM

The Jos Museum is situated in Jos, the capital city of Plateau State, and was founded in 1952. The Museum is home to a vast collection of prehistoric artworks from Nigeria, the most notable of which are the Nok terracotta heads and artifacts that date from 500 BC to 200 AD. The Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture, housed within the Jos Museum, features life-size reconstructions of a wide range of structures, including a Tiv village, the walls of Kano, and the mosque in Zaria. The museum also has several fascinating colonial-era items on display that deal with railroads and tin mining. UNESCO assisted in the establishment of the museum’s affiliated School for Museum Technicians.

NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM, UMUAHIA

Established in 1985 and listed as one of Nigeria’s seven wonders for tourists, the National War Museum is situated in Umuahia, Abia State. War tanks, ships, and planes from both Nigeria and Biafra are among the artifacts from the Nigerian Civil War kept in the museum.

NATIONAL MUSEUM BENIN CITY

This museum was founded in 1973 and is situated in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. Original bronze statues from Benin that evoke memories of the former Benin Empire are kept in the museum. Additionally, it displays artifacts made of cast iron and terracotta that have a rich history.

NATIONAL MUSEUM KADUNA

Located in Kaduna, the state capital, this museum was established in 1975 and features a collection of intriguing ethnographic and archeological artifacts, including bronze and terracotta statuettes. The traditional village of artisans is located on the museum premises.

CALABAR OLD RESIDENCY MUSEUM

Constructed in 1884 and situated in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, this museum is among the oldest in Nigeria. Before it was transformed into what it is today, the museum was the colonial authorities’ administrative headquarters in Nigeria during the British colonial era. Valuable information about Nigeria’s pre-colonial and colonial history can be found in the museum. It also features artifacts from Calabar’s slave trading history.

ESIE MUSEUM, KWARA STATE

Founded in 1945, the Esie Museum is situated in Kwara State. Being among the oldest museums in Nigeria, some of the artifacts on show there are incredibly fascinating, breathtaking, and astonishing. Visitors to the museum are always drawn to the impressive stone statues on display, which are reputed to be among the largest in the world. The Esie Museum comprises two distinct gallery types: the ancient galleries and the modern galleries. It is estimated that this museum houses and exhibits roughly two thousand artifacts. Beyond the historic stones, other objects are kept in the new gallery. There is a festival of monuments celebrated every year in April at the museum.

GIDAN MAKAMA MUSEUM, KANO

Kano, the State capital of Kano, is home to the Gidan Makama Museum. Constructed in the fifteenth century, it functioned as Kano’s temporary palace prior to the construction of the current palace, Gidan Rumfa. The museum is home to significant art collections, handicrafts, and historical artifacts with a connection to Kano. The Federal Government of Nigeria has designated the Gidan Makama Museum, which is the country’s oldest museum and is housed in a historical structure from the 15th century, as a National Monument. The main entrance hall, which is separated into 11 galleries, features exhibits of traditional materials, maps of Kano and its city walls, the history of statehood, Kano throughout the 19th century, the Civil War, the economy, industry, and music.

BADAGRY HERITAGE MUSEUM

This museum holds great significance in the history of Nigeria and Africa. It was constructed in Badagry, Lagos, in 1863. The museum is home to numerous artefacts from the colonial era slave trade, and it provides insightful information on the events that transpired during that period. It transports the mind to the past, allowing us to connect with our past and recognise the freedom we currently cherish.

ORON MUSEUM

Oron, Akwa Ibom State, is home to this museum. It has some of the oldest exhibits on the continent and peculiar Civil War relics on show, including the bunker of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the first president of Biafra and a former military governor of the Eastern Region. The museum was constructed in 1958/1959, but it was unable to fulfil its cultural purpose because of damage and looting that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. But the museum was reconstructed in 1975, and inside are restored wooden figurines that serve as a reminder of the villagers’ way of life.

IGBO UKWU MUSEUM, ANAMBRA STATE

The Igbo Ukwu Museum is located in Anambra State. Igbo Ukwu town is famous for three archaeological sites where bronze artefacts from a highly sophisticated bronze metal working civilization going back to the 9th or 10th century have been discovered during excavations. It’s no surprise that the museum was chosen for its location in the town. Artefacts discovered in Igbo Ukwu over the years include jewellery, ceramics, various bronze, copper, and iron artefacts, and so on.