Tinubu visits Qatar museum, to witness signing of eight agreements

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday stressed the importance of accurately documenting a nation’s history, cultural evolution and challenges.

Tinubu made this assertion when he commenced his two-day working visit to Qatar with a tour of its National Museum.

Touring the expansive 39,994 square meter edifice, which is centred around Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani’s original palace, the President appreciated the cultural significance of documenting the nation’s heritage, expressing admiration for the Museum.

He was conducted around the structure by the CEO of Qatar Museums, Mohammed Saad Al Rumaihi.

While fielding questions from journalists afterwards, he said, “It is great to document culture from the beginning of history, the culture of civilisation, collaborations, challenges and perseverance of leadership.”

On replicating the same in Nigeria, the President said, “We still have a long way to go…I am glad I am here. It is a great honour; you learn every day of your life.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, hinted at plans to replicate similar projects in Nigeria, adding value to the creative industry.

“This is absolutely amazing because you really do get inspiration. We have a plan to do a national museum and a number of museums all over Nigeria and across some of our missions abroad.

“So, this has been a great inspiration and I can see where we can tap into their wealth of knowledge of what they have done here in Qatar and be able to add value to the arts, culture and creative economy within Nigeria,” said Musawa.

President Tinubu and his entourage were also conducted around several sections where they viewed the early Hijazi Quran fragments, the Sitara of the Holy Kaaba, the Moroccan arch, a copy of al-Sufi’s treatise on the fixed stars, the Abbasid blue-and-white bowl, the Seljuq stucco panel, the Doha Hind and the post-Islamic Spanish ceiling.

The President also visited the Qatari Foundation, which currently contributes humanitarian aid to Nigeria’s Northeast.

Founded in 1955 by the Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his second wife, Moza bint Nasser Al-Missne, the Qatari Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is a state-led nonprofit organisation dedicated to science, research and documentation

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state said the foundation was currently building orphanages, houses, and schools in Maiduguri, the state capital, and other parts of the north.

He explained, “Their main objective is to assist displaced and downtrodden communities in Nigeria. We want to give our appreciation to the Qatar Charity Foundation.

“We believe that with the presence of the President of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this organisation will provide more support to the government of Nigeria both at the national and sub-national levels.

“The main objective of the foundation is geared towards enhancing education, Science and research in community development.”

He also expressed the hope that Nigerian entrepreneurs, especially in agriculture and animal husbandry, will continue to benefit from the relationship between Nigeria and Qatar.

The governor also noted that Qatar had perfected the development of agriculture, particularly livestock farming, expressing hope that Nigeria will leverage the relationship to resolve the farmers-herders clash permanently.

“What we need from them mainly is in the areas of research in community development because they export meat and other food items.

We are speaking about cattle grazing and farmers-herders clashes. I think the Qatari Foundation will come in through research because, in northern Nigeria, we share climatic conditions with Qatar. I hope that they will do the research in such a way that the two countries will mutually benefit from it,” he said.

On Sunday, he is expected to witness the signing of at least eight agreements between Nigeria and the Qatari government.

Hours before the museum tour, Tinubu met ministers and top government officials to fashion out modalities for engaging with the host. In attendance were Ministers of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Ibrahim; and Health and Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare, Ali Pate.