The foundation stone of the multi-million naira Asaba Heritage Museum project, being bankrolled by Tony Ndah Foundation, has been laid on the permanent palace ground of the Asagba of Asaba.
The ceremony was performed by the 14th Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, FNIALS, who said the initiative was clearly in response to his call on sons and daughters of Asaba to contribute to the branding of the capital city.
He thanked Ogbueshi Tony Ndah for undertaking to single-handedly execute the project, which was not captured in the original contract for the palace building, at an estimated cost of N400 million.
Asagba Prof Azinge disclosed that while the main palace building would be progressing slowly with funds already raised by the community, the museum project, with half of the contract sum already provided, would be completed by December this year.
“Today, by the grace of God and thanks to our son, Ogbueshi Tony Ndah, who has promised and in fullness of the vision made available the money for the building of this museum. We are so grateful to him and we are here to lay the foundation of the project. We envisage that come December this year the building would have been fully completed and handed over to us for use.
“We are also conscious of the fact that this building cannot stand alone in isolation and we are working assiduously to ensure that other corporate and complimentary structures are also completed within the same period. We are confident that come October, 2026, by the grace of God my second coronation anniversary, that this place would have been fully commissioned, dedicated and opened to the public.
“So we very grateful to God and thank our sons and daughters for their commitment and dedication to the cause of Asaba and for their support and solidarity to the throne so far. We hope that this will be a signal to all others, wherever they may be, to also find a way of supporting what we are doing in Asaba. We are trying to brand Asaba and rebrand it to the best of our ability; to make it a shining star on our horizon; to make sure that Asaba remains the fastest growing state capital in Nigeria.
“I have said it repeatedly that government cannot do everything for us. There are certain things we must do for ourselves and this is a clear example and a testimony to the fact that throughly we are prepared to do certain things for ourselves and we are doing them very well. So I want to appreciate all and sundry, all those who came out today to support this endeavor. It is our prayer that, by the grace of God and also the instrumentality of our forebears and ancestors, that this building will be completed in record time without any hindrance “, the Monarch said
The foremost traditional ruler announced that another illustrious son of Asaba, Emma Odiaka, had indicated interest to build the palace library, which was also not captured in the original contract, while there had been corporate promises of support for the main palace building, especially the pavilion, whose contract was expected to be awarded next week, to be followed by the immediate mobilization of the contractor to site.
His Royal Majesty commended the people of Asaba for their self-help spirit, propelled by their belief and confidence in his leadership and the realization of the fact that the era of expecting the government to do everything for the community was gone.
In an address read by Mrs Christabel Ndah-Chukwudi, the Founder, Tony Ndah Foundation, Ogbueshi Tony Ndah, said the groundbreaking ceremony was a monumental step towards reclaiming and celebrating the rich heritage and culture of Asaba people, adding that the museum was set to become a beacon of cultural pride and historical preservation.
While stressing that the museum would serve as a testament to the resilience, creativity and enduring spirit of Asaba people, Tony Ndah noted that the edifice would house diverse exhibitions relating to the unique stories of the ancestors, highlight contributions to art, culture and innovation and serve as a platform for educating future generations about the rich legacy of Asaba people.
He stated that the museum was poised to offer significant economic and social benefits to the Asaba community and beyond, as it would attract tourists, scholars, and cultural enthusiasts from across the world, generate substantial revenue and create numerous job opportunities, foster a vibrant local economy, as well as encourage investment and development in Asaba and the environs.
Tony Ndah commended Asagba Prof Azinge for creating a space that would not only preserve the past, but also inspire the future generations, and expressed the hope that the project would invite Asaba people in the diaspora to reconnect with their roots and contribute to the growth and development of their home land.
In an interview with Journalists, the Managing Director of PROFEATS Ltd, handlers of the project, Engr. Emma Ogbogu, assured that the job would meet global standards and would be completed in four months time.
He said: “The museum will be a one stop shop for our cultural and historical past, the present and the future”.
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