MUSEUM SECURITY IN NIGERIA: IGBOUKWU MUSEUM AS A CASE STUDY

The society in which we live are security conscious and they have devised means of safe guarding themselves from harm or destruction. Many have fortified walls that serve as a defensive mechanism. Likewise our cultural heritage resources in the museum need to be safeguarded which is the pride of a given community or an area. It has to be a priority for our nation to safeguard the museum resources, because it is the store house of our heritage. Unfortunately, this could not be achieved because of vandals and thieves who are on the quest for cultural materials. The paper examines the security options in Nigerian museum with specific reference to Igbo Ukwu Museum, Anambra State, as the cradle of Igbo civilization. The study also looked at museum security challenges in Igboukwu Museum and recommended ways forward. The researcher used an in-depth interview, which was analyzed qualitatively. Documentary sources were also used along with the primary data. The findings show that Igbo Ukwu Museum security management is porous and needs the integration of modern security strategies, which include adopting electronic gadgets like CCTV (closed circuit television) systems, photo cell systems, audio detectors, and others. Employing dedicated security guards and staff will help too.