From Kingsley Jeremiah, Abuja

Nigeria’s cultural and historical heritage faces an existential threat due to poor archival infrastructure, inadequate funding, and technological obsolescence.
These concerns dominated discussions at the inaugural Piql Africa Breakfast Meeting on Heritage Preservation, held in Lagos to offer a sustainable solution to the crisis.

The high-level gathering, organised by Piql Nigeria, a global leader in long-term digital preservation, brought together policymakers, cultural advocates, academics, corporate leaders, and heritage experts to discuss sustainable solutions for safeguarding Nigeria’s legacy.

Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, the Igwe of Orlu, Dr. Rick Acholonu, cultural financier, Yemisi Shyllon, a cultural financier, Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, Michel Deleen, Special Assistant to the President on Creativity, Baba Agba, Chairman of Piql Africa Ltd, Nze Ed Keazor, Director of the Nigerian National Archives, Evelyn Odigboh, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Ojinnaka Obi Asika, Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Tola Akerele and others at the event demanded urgent attention on preservation of the country heritage and data.

The event’s keynote speaker, Asika noted that cultural memory is more than nostalgia, adding that it is a form of economic and political power. He argued that many African societies had sophisticated knowledge systems before colonial rule, citing examples such as the Benin Bronzes, the Nok civilisation’s ironworks, and the Nsibidi writing system, which challenge colonial narratives that Africa lacked a written history.

“Africa’s data systems were embedded in language patterns, proverbs, rituals, and cosmology. Our ancestors built cities without modern tools and recorded knowledge without paper, yet today, our records are scattered, neglected, or lost,” Asika noted.

He urged stakeholders to integrate archival preservation into national development strategies, aligning memory with technology and storytelling with data.
A major theme at the meeting was the misrepresentation of African history and the loss of critical national records as Anyaoku said there is a deliberate distortion of African history during the transatlantic slave trade and colonial era.

He stressed that one of the biggest challenges facing Nigerian historians today is reclaiming the true narrative of the country’s past through rigorous research and archiving.

“The more we uncover, the better we can challenge the misconception that Africa was a blank slate before colonial rule,” he said.

Anyaoku shared a personal experience of taking visitors to the National Museum in Lagos, only to find its state deplorable and embarrassing. He criticised the chronic underfunding of Nigeria’s museums and archives, revealing that while serving in government, he had successfully lobbied for ₦800 million from the federal government and $2 million from the Ford Foundation to support archival preservation. However, he stressed that these efforts needed to be institutionalised rather than left to occasional interventions.

Cultural advocate and philanthropist, Yemisi Shyllon echoed these concerns, lamenting Nigeria’s failure to document its own history.

“If we do not document our past, how do we expect to transition from an extractive economy to a knowledge-driven one? Other nations are leveraging historical data to build artificial intelligence and drive innovation, while we continue to neglect ours,” Shyllon said.

Shyllon highlighted his efforts to digitise Nigeria’s cultural heritage through Google Arts & Culture, where 31 cultural events, including the Ojude Oba Festival, Osun Osogbo Festival, and Eyo Festival, have been archived for global access. He urged both the public and private sectors to invest in preserving Nigeria’s intellectual and cultural legacy.

Stressing Nigeria’s lack of a structured archival system has led to widespread inaccuracies in historical records, Keazor, said the widely accepted claim that Flora Shaw coined the name “Nigeria” in 1897.

Keazor revealed that records dating back to 1719 reference “Nigeria” in different contexts, proving that its usage predates Shaw’s claim.

“This is why proper archival research is crucial. Many of the narratives we take for granted are, in fact, incorrect. Without a systematic approach to preserving and analysing historical records, we will continue to operate with distorted versions of our past,” Keazor said.

He also noted ongoing efforts to digitise Nigeria’s legal, musical, and cultural history, stressing that technology offers the best solution to Nigeria’s archival crisis.

The Director of the Nigerian National Archives, Evelyn Odigboh, provided further insight into the challenges facing the country’s archival institutions. She pointed out that many important documents do not exist in the National Archives simply because they were never submitted for archiving.

“Archives are not just for researchers or historians; they serve everyone. If a historical photograph or document was never officially archived, it does not exist for future generations,” she explained.

She listed the four key criteria that determine whether a document qualifies for archiving: historical value, administrative relevance, legal significance, or research potential. However, she noted that many individuals and institutions fail to recognise the importance of submitting documents to national archives
The breakfast meeting also saw growing interest from the corporate sector in heritage preservation as First Bank Nigeria, NLNG, and Text Nigeria Limited show the potential shift towards greater private-sector involvement in archival preservation.

The participation of the Imo State Economic Summit Group (IESG) further underscored the economic dimension of heritage preservation, with the group expressing interest in aligning Piql’s initiatives with broader development goals.

One of the meeting’s most significant outcomes was the announcement of a strategic partnership between Piql West Africa and the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC). This collaboration aims to digitise and securely store Nigeria’s cultural heritage using Piql’s innovative long-term data preservation technology.

Managing Director of Piql Africa Ltd, Esona Onuoha described the initiative as a bridge between Nigeria’s rich cultural past and its digital future.
“Piql’s technology ensures that these records are preserved in a way that is both secure and sustainable. This is not just about data storage—it is about securing cultural identity,” Onuoha said.

Chief Executive Officer of Piql AS and the Arctic World Archive (AWA), Rune Bjerkestrand stressed Piql’s global commitment to cultural preservation.
The event also featured the Awards for Excellence in Heritage Preservation, recognising individuals and institutions that have played a vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

Recipients included: Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Wole Soyinka (represented by Jahman Anikulapo), Prince Yemisi Shyllon, First Bank of Nigeria, Evelyn Odigboh, Jahman Anikulapo, Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (in absentia).

Accepting the award on behalf of Prof. Wole Soyinka, Jahman Anikulapo said cultural preservation is not just a matter of history, but remains as critical to the identity and future of the country.

Reflecting on the event’s success, Chief Operating Officer of Piql Nigeria, Sanford Emejuaiwe, emphasised that the enthusiasm shown by all attendees reaffirmed the urgency of preserving Nigeria’s legacy.

“The conversations and partnerships formed today will drive the future of data preservation and cultural protection,” he said.

Chief Strategy Officer of Piql Nigeria, Emeka Enwere, described the event as a benchmark for what could be achieved when stakeholders collaborate.
The discussions at the Piql Africa Breakfast Meeting highlighted that Nigeria’s approach to heritage preservation must shift from passive documentation to active integration within national development strategies.

Without structured policies and investment, the country risks losing its cultural and historical memory. However, the partnership between Piql and NCAC offers a step in the right direction, signalling a future where Nigeria’s cultural identity is not only preserved but also accessible for generations to come.