Kano- The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) had requested the permission of the Kano State Emirate to establish an Islamic art museum at the defunct British Council’s premises in Kano.
The Director-General of the commission, Malam Yusuf Abdullahi, made the request when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, in his palace.
According to him, the decision to establish the museum is to reinforce the status of Kano as a city of Islamic heritage as declared by the Islamic Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) in 2012.
The director-general said “as the chief custodian of the collective heritage of Kano people, we solicit your permission to collaborate with the emirate council in the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of Kano.
“We have selected five more sites in the state for inclusion in the list of additional national monuments to be declared opened by President Goodluck Jonathan soon.’’
Abdullahi said the selected sites include the Kano City walls and gates, Gidan Rumfa complex and its daughter palaces, the dye pits, Kurmi Market and Dala ancient settlement sites.
To further promote the heritage status of the ancient city, the director-general said NCMM was currently working toward nominating the city for inclusion in the prestigious UNESCO world heritage list.
He added that the commission had conceived and designed an exhibition on the life and times of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, to mark the first year of his demise.
The reports state  that Bayero died in June 2014 after he had reigned for 50 years.
He said the decision was to recognise Bayero’s contributions to the development of Nigerian communities and institutions spanning over half a century.
Responding, the Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, commended the commission for its planned decision to establish the Islamic museum in the city.
Sanusi advised that the museum should be established as a section or department within Gidan Makama, the state museum, instead of locating it within the premises of the defunct British Council.
According to him, all the historical monuments are based within the same complex, instead of locating them in different areas.