The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA), Pan-Atlantic University, has been recognized among Nigeria’s Top 100 Travel and Tourism Icons and received the Travellers Award 2025/2026 in the category of Top Art Galleries and Museums in Nigeria for promoting excellence in travels.
The award, presented by ATQ News and Travellers Magazine, was received by YSMA during the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market held on September 13, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos. The recognition followed a public voting process and celebrates organizations making notable contributions to Nigeria’s travel, tourism, arts and cultural landscape.
For YSMA, the recognition comes as the Museum continues to expand its role beyond the exhibition and preservation of artworks to serve as a platform for learning, cultural exchange, community engagement and the promotion of Nigeria’s artistic heritage.
Speaking on the recognition, Dr. Jess Castellote, Director, YSMA, said the award reflects the Museum’s growing relevance as a place where art, education and public engagement intersect.
“We are pleased to receive this recognition because it acknowledges something that is central to what we are trying to do at YSMA: make Nigerian art and cultural heritage accessible, meaningful and relevant to diverse audiences. A museum is not only a place to preserve objects; it is also a place for people to encounter ideas, learn, connect and develop a deeper appreciation of their heritage. We are grateful that this work is increasingly being recognized within Nigeria’s tourism and cultural landscape.”
The recognition also highlights the significance of the Museum’s location within a university environment. Since its establishment, YSMA has sought to contribute to the educational mission of Pan-Atlantic University while opening the University to wider communities through exhibitions, educational programmes, workshops, research, public programmes and partnerships.
For the Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo, the award is an affirmation of the University’s commitment to creating spaces where education extends beyond the conventional classroom.
“The recognition of YSMA among Nigeria’s leading travel and tourism icons is a source of great pride for Pan-Atlantic University. It affirms our belief that a university can contribute to society not only through academic excellence, but also through culture, creativity, heritage and public engagement. YSMA has become an important part of the University’s contribution to Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem, and this recognition reflects the dedication of the Museum team and the wider University community to that mission.”
The award was presented as part of the Travellers Awards, which have recognized individuals, organisations and businesses contributing to aviation, travel, tourism and hospitality since 1996. Travellers Magazine, first published in 1993, is described by ATQ News as the first travel magazine published in West Africa, while ATQ News was established in 2014 as a travel news platform covering Nigeria and Africa.
Ikechi Uke, Founder of the Akwaaba African Travel Market and Publisher of Travellers Magazine/CEO of ATQ News, noted the recognition reflects the growing importance of cultural institutions to Nigeria’s tourism offering.
“Tourism is not only about hotels, airlines and destinations; culture is at the heart of the experience. Museums and galleries preserve the stories, creativity and heritage that give destinations their identity. The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art has continued to create opportunities for people to encounter Nigerian art and heritage, and its recognition in the Travellers Awards reflects the contribution such institutions make to the development of tourism in Nigeria.”
The recognition further positions YSMA within a growing network of cultural and tourism stakeholders and reinforces its potential as a destination for cultural tourism in Lagos. The Museum’s collection comprises more than 1,000 artworks and includes works by some of Nigeria’s most significant modern and contemporary artists.
Beyond its collection and exhibitions, YSMA has developed educational and public programmes designed to connect different audiences with art and cultural heritage, including engagements with schools, universities, communities and international museum professionals. Its participation in international museum networks and collaborations has also expanded opportunities for cultural exchange and professional development.
The Travellers Award adds to YSMA’s growing recognition as an institution that contributes simultaneously to art, education, heritage, tourism and public engagement. For the Museum, it is not simply an acknowledgement of the its visitor destination status, but an affirmation of the broader role that museums can play in connecting cultural heritage with contemporary learning, community participation and the development of Nigeria’s cultural tourism ecosystem.
About Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art
Voted Museum Opening of the Year by Apollo Magazine in 2020, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) at Pan-Atlantic University is Nigeria’s leading university art museum, committed to service and impact through the preservation and showcase of the rich artistic heritage of Nigeria. With an extensive collection of artworks spanning centuries, YSMA offers a diverse range of exhibitions, educational programs, and activities designed to create immersive experiences for visitors and to enrich the cultural landscape of the nation. To learn more about the YSMA and its initiatives, visit www.ysma.pau.edu.ng.
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