The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) in Lagos will scrap its admission fee for all visitors from June 15, 2026, in what the institution describes as its first such initiative since opening in 2019.
The move, according to a statement, has been made possible by art collectors and philanthropists Aisha and Gbenga Oyebode, who have committed funding for an initial three-year period.
The Lagos-based museum, located on the campus of Pan-Atlantic University, said the initiative aims to widen public access to Nigerian art and increase visitor numbers across student, research, tourism and general audiences.
Museum Director Jess Castellote said removing the entry fee was a significant development for the institution.
“Making the museum freely accessible to the public removes an important barrier between people and culture,” he said. “It allows more students, families, young creatives, researchers, and tourists to encounter Nigerian art in meaningful ways.”
Aisha and Gbenga Oyebode, who sit on YSMA’s advisory board, said the decision reflects their view that cultural institutions have a responsibility to expand access to learning and civic life. “Museums are spaces of knowledge, reflection, and human connection,” they said. “Supporting free public access to YSMA is about ensuring that more people, especially young Nigerians, can experience the richness of our artistic and cultural heritage without limitations.”
The announcement follows recent strategic engagements by YSMA with the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and the Eko Tourism Foundation (ETF), as the museum seeks to consolidate its position as a cultural anchor in the Ibeju-Lekki corridor and the wider Lagos tourism economy.
Since opening in 2019, YSMA has built one of Nigeria’s most significant collections of Nigerian art and established itself as a platform for exhibitions, scholarship, and public programming. The museum was named Museum Opening of the Year by Apollo Magazine in 2020.
•Featured image: Gbenga and Aisha Oyebode.jpeg
