The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA), Pan-Atlantic University, has been recognised 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.
The award, presented by ATQ News and Travellers Magazine, was received by representatives of YSMA during the opening ceremony of the 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market, held on September 13, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos.
The recognition followed a public voting process and celebrates organisations contributing to Nigeria’s travel, tourism, arts and cultural development.
For YSMA, the recognition comes as the museum continues to expand its role beyond the preservation and exhibition of artworks to serve as a platform for learning, cultural exchange, community engagement and the promotion of Nigeria’s artistic heritage.
Speaking on the award, Dr. Jess Castellote, Director of YSMA, said the recognition reflects the museum’s growing relevance as a space where art, education and public engagement converge.
“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 recognised within Nigeria’s tourism and cultural landscape.”
The award also highlights the significance of YSMA’s location within a university environment. Since its establishment, the museum has contributed to the educational mission of Pan-Atlantic University while opening the institution 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 recognition affirms 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 recognised 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, Publisher of Travellers Magazine and CEO of ATQ News, said 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 places YSMA within a growing network of cultural and tourism stakeholders and highlights its role as a destination for cultural tourism in Lagos.
The museum’s collection comprises more than 1,000 artworks, including works by some of Nigeria’s significant modern and contemporary artists.
Beyond its collection and exhibitions, YSMA has developed educational and public programmes designed to connect diverse 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 created opportunities for cultural exchange and professional development.
The Travellers Award adds to YSMA’s growing recognition as an institution contributing to art, education, heritage, tourism and public engagement.
For the museum, the recognition goes beyond its status as a visitor destination, highlighting the broader role 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 a university art museum committed to preserving and showcasing Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage.
With an extensive collection of artworks spanning centuries, YSMA presents exhibitions, educational programmes and activities designed to create immersive experiences for visitors while contributing to Nigeria’s cultural landscape.
