British Museum and Oxford University Experts Initiate Strategic Heritage Partnership With Nigeria Railway Corporation Legacy Museum

Oxford and British Museum experts visit Lagos to help restore the NRC Legacy Museum, focusing on colonial locomotives and Queen Elizabeth II’s historic coach.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 7:02 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from THISDAYLIVE

International Experts Convene to Safeguard Railway Antiquities

A high level delegation featuring experts from the British Museum and the University of Oxford conducted a familiarization visit to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Legacy Museum in Ebute Meta, Lagos. Led by Oxford anthropologist Professor Paul Bagu and Mrs. Julia Hudson, the team aimed to assess the museum's collection for potential international collaboration. The visit signifies a major step toward integrating global conservation expertise with Nigeria's industrial heritage, focusing on the revival of historical assets that define the nation’s colonial and post,independence transit evolution.

Restoration Focus on the Historic Old Running Shed

The delegation spent significant time inspecting the Old Running Shed, a critical section of the museum compound that houses a variety of aging locomotives and coaches. Professor Bagu emphasized that these assets represent a vital repository of cultural history and highlighted an urgent need for professional restoration. According to Bagu, the potential for knowledge exchange in the field of conservation is immense, ensuring that these mechanical monuments do not succumb to further environmental decay but instead serve as educational tools for future generations.

Preserving the Royal Coach and Shared Colonial History

A centerpiece of the visit was the inspection of the historic railway coach utilized by Queen Elizabeth II during her state visit to Nigeria. The experts noted that such artifacts represent a unique historical link between Britain and Nigeria’s railway development. By leveraging this shared heritage, the partnership seeks to elevate the museum's status through collaborative storytelling and joint exhibitions. The delegation argued that these specific items are not merely local relics but are internationally significant pieces of the Commonwealth's shared industrial narrative.