Restoring our vanishing archives

As the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) celebrated its International Archives Day, one resounding issue that echoed throughout the one week celebration was the importance of preserving the vanishing archives which are the symbol of our nation’s history. The FCT Archives and History Bureau, the agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting and preserving culture put […]

As the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) celebrated its International Archives Day, one resounding issue that echoed throughout the one week celebration was the importance of preserving the vanishing archives which are the symbol of our nation’s history.

The FCT Archives and History Bureau, the agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting and preserving culture put together a symposium and exhibition to showcase the history of the FCT, themed, “Abuja; the Hub”.

Director of the bureau, Mrs Cerie Jogai, welcoming guests from all works of life to the event at the FCT, which has been described as having the best edifice housing archives in the country stated that this year’s 2017 International Archives Day theme worldwide is “Archives, Citizenship and Interculturalism”.

Jogai giving a brief background noted that the International Council of Archives (ICA) was created and celebrated annually the world over under the auspices of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an umbrella association of the archivist and records managers globally.

She explained that the day offers archivists an opportunity to promote the cause of archives, persuade key decision makers that effective record keeping is an essential precondition for good governance, transparency, accountability and raise public awareness on archives.    

Archives could be defined as the “accumulation of historical, legal, financial and administrative records that are generated in the course of individual or organization functions that have been adjudged worthy of permanent preservation”.  

“Unfortunately most of us do not appreciate the importance of archives and its place in our lives, we need to refer to our past so that we can improve our future, we need them to retrace our history so we do not make the same mistakes we made in the past again”.

Jogai said that though the bureau had much to offer it was hindered from fulfilling its mandate due to paucity of funds, lack of adequate manpower and resources”.

“We need the timely intervention of the FCT, we are in dire need of funds for research, recruitment of professional staff to handle these archives materials and preserve them adequately”.

The Minister of the FCT, Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the FCT, Mr Babatope Ajakaiye, responded that the FCT is quite aware of the importance of archives and is presenting looking for ways to help restore the nation’s vanishing archives through better funding.

According to him the theme of this year’s celebration is apt as it provides moral judgment and commitment to mobilize and educate not only public servants but also the general public to appreciate the historical importance of preserving the collective memory of a people which guarantees citizens right.

His words, “today provides us with an opportunity to challenge ourselves as citizens of our dear nation to see official records and archives as the embodiment of our collective heritage that need to be jealously guarded and preserved for easy access by the present and future generation of our country”.  

“I urge the staff of the FCT administration to imbibe the spirit of promoting effective and sustainable records management system in our various SDAs”.

“It is our responsibility to let the public appreciate not just the importance of archives but also the need for a systematic records management across all spheres of private and public lives, and by so doing can attain the long cherished global aspiration for good governance and accountability for national development in line with the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

Meanwhile, the Sapeiye of Garki, Alhaji Umar Dan Mogakofi, advised that the Bureau should work closely with all custodians of culture. He warned that removing history from the school syllabus will not augur well for the country, adding, “how can any country move forward or develop if we are determined to forget our history? Right now we need to set up a committee to go round the FCT to gather more facts and records before these things are destroyed, they need to go to communities and gather the FCT’s authentic history so that these things can be adequately preserved.

“We, the traditional heads are the custodians of our culture, we are quite willing to work with the FCT archives and history bureau to retrace our history, because we have a rich history.” 

The Director of the National Archives, Mallam Abdulyekin Umar, making a presentation on, “Archives and Records Keeping; the memory of the nation”, said that most first generation universities have archives which have been totally neglected or lack the right capacity of staff.

He added in most cases, funding is not adequate, buildings are not well built for archival holdings, with the non- availability of repository, reference room, conservation and reprography laboratory to help preserve the materials.

According to him, the archival institutions in Nigeria are saddled with a lot of challenges which he numerated to include, “ the archives building in Nigeria were built in 1950s and 60s which are begging for rehabilitation, the federal government has not made any capital funding specifically in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016”.

He continued, “the Ministry of Information and Culture in the year 2014 trained 25 members of staff out of a total of 320; since then the gate has been locked; equipment and machineries are obsolete and no replacement in sight yet; utility vehicles are not there to survey, acquire and transfer the records to the archive’s repositories located nationwide”.

He advised that for any archives institution to function adequately some things need to be in place which he said would include, “good funding and proper utilization of the funds, purposeful archival building, well trained archivists and records managers, state of the art equipment and machines and 24 hour security to protect the records.

“Preventing enemies of records e.g human beings, fire, water, pests and harsh weather conditions to be regulated, prevention of dust which makes the record brittle and digitization of archives, so that there could be backup kept at another location for safety”.

Giving the key note address on the ICA theme, “Archives, Citizenship and  Interculturalism, Professor Folarin Shyllon, noted that everything humanly possible must be done to preserve our archives, saying that it is quite obvious “we have problems with maintaining and managing our archives in Nigeria’.

Professor Shyllon said that a lot of awareness and sensitization have to be done so that the public can appreciate archives, because according to him, most people still confuse archives for a library or a museum without necessarily understanding the difference.

He added that in recent times most archives are being digitalized for safe keeping. 

He lamented that relegating an institution of such importance to the sidelines is not good for the country, saying, “though we might not appreciate spending funds on preserving our archives, as investments may not yield immediate returns, but in the long run, we would be happy we did”.

He commended the FCT administration for providing what he called an edifice to house its archives “unlike the seven rooms provided in the Radio House to hold all the nations archives and cultural resources”.

The director of national archives said in his closing remarks, “I will be pleased if the private sector or individuals could synergize with the archives to protect, preserve and disseminate the vital records by way of rehabilitation and digitization of archives, replacement of obsolete machines and equipment to secure the nation’s documentary heritage”.