Nigeria honours pioneer arctic world archive depositors, signals broader push for cultural preservation

Nigeria has taken a significant step in safeguarding its historical and cultural legacy, formally recognising institutions and individuals who participated in the country’s first-ever deposit into the Arctic World Archive (AWA), while unveiling plans to deepen engagement in long-term global archival preservation.

The recognition and next phase briefing event, held on April 23, 2026, brought together key stakeholders across the cultural, legal, and creative sectors to reflect on Nigeria’s historic February 27 deposit in Svalbard and map out a broader national strategy for preserving critical records for future generations.

Organised by Piql West Africa, the event underscored growing awareness around archival preservation as a tool for protecting national identity, institutional memory, and intellectual heritage.

In his opening remarks, Paul Alfred welcomed participants before introducing a presentation from Piql headquarters, which detailed the technology underpinning the Arctic World Archive a high-security facility designed to store data on specially engineered film capable of lasting for centuries without degradation.

Ed Keazor, Chairman of Piql West Africa, provided a detailed narrative of the February deposit, describing it as both historic and logistically demanding. He highlighted the remoteness of Svalbard, accessible by a single daily flight and the operational constraints this imposed on the Nigerian delegation.

He further recounted how an unexpected snowstorm, the first recorded in six years during that period, complicated the mission, requiring precision coordination and resilience from participants.

Despite these challenges, Nigeria was represented at the deposit by Keazor and Esona Onuoha. He also paid tribute to  Nduka Eze of the Asaba Monument Trust.

Keazor emphasised that Nigeria’s contributions to the archive span cultural, institutional and historical records, each carefully curated to reflect the country’s identity and evolution.

A 19-minute documentary screened during the event provided a visual account of Nigeria and Africa’s debut participation in the Arctic World Archive. The film featured contributions from international depositors, including Guinness and the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, highlighting the global scale and diversity of the initiative.

The documentary captured the moment Nigerian archives were formally presented and deposited in the vault, positioning the country among a select group of nations and institutions committed to ultra-long-term preservation.

The certificate presentation segment formed the core of the evening, with honours conferred on depositors and their representatives.

Among them was Omoba Yemisi Shyllon, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost art collectors. He was commended for his longstanding commitment to preserving Nigerian art and cultural expression. In his response, Shyllon praised Piql Nigeria’s leadership and vision.

Chinwe Chikelu received a certificate on behalf of the Owelle Gilbert Chikelu Foundation, representing
Emeka Chikelu. She described the initiative as one rooted in legacy rather than self-interest, noting that it reflects a commitment to posterity and national memory. The Chairman had earlier described Owelle Gilbert Chikelu as a principled figure who would only support initiatives of proven value.

Kingsley Ezeanobie, the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), represented Nze Obi Asika, DG NCAC and delivered remarks on his behalf.

In the address, the initiative was described as a moment of “civilisational significance”, stressing that while Africa has long contributed to global civilisation, it has not always controlled the preservation and interpretation of its own history.

According to the NCAC, the Arctic deposit ensures that African narratives, spanning culture, knowledge systems and creative output, are preserved in perpetuity, accessible to future generations and shielded from distortion.

The council highlighted contributions from institutions such as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), the Nsibidi Institute, and private archives as critical repositories of identity and heritage.

Importantly, the NCAC noted that its own deposit captures the evolution of Nigeria’s creative economy, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, fashion and literature, embedding these within a global archive of human achievement.
Other honourees included representatives of the Justice Idigbe Archives, Bloom Arts/Mbari Kola, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), and the Iba Ajie Ukpabi and Chinyere Asika Knowledge Centre.
Barrister Adeyinka Abdulsalam, representing the Justice Idigbe Archives, described Nigeria’s participation as a landmark achievement that has “put the country on the map” in the global preservation space.

Emmanuel Owamoboye, representing Bloom Arts, and  Henry Mamuru of OOPL both commended Piql Nigeria for advancing preservation efforts and fostering institutional collaboration.

Oloye Yetunde Asika, Board Chairman of Iba Ajie, reflected on the emotional impact of the documentary, noting that it powerfully demonstrated Nigeria’s place within a global system of heritage preservation.

Keazor also received a certificate on behalf of the Nsibidi Institute, further underscoring his dual role as both organiser and contributor.

In his closing remarks, Eze Rick Acholonu, His Royal Majesty,  the Igwe of Orlu commended the initiative and expressed a strong desire to participate in the next deposit cycle.
Keazor confirmed that the next Arctic World Archive deposit is scheduled for October 2026, calling for expanded participation across government agencies, cultural institutions, private archives and sub-national entities.

He stressed that the initiative should evolve into a national movement, ensuring that Nigeria’s diverse histories, languages, traditions and innovations are systematically preserved.

Nigeria’s inaugural deposit included contributions from a wide range of institutions, including NCAC, NCMM, the Asaba Monument Trust, the Nsibidi Institute, Bloom Arts, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, and several private and legacy projects.

Stakeholders say the initiative represents more than a symbolic milestone, it is a strategic intervention aimed at protecting truth, strengthening identity, and securing Africa’s place in the global historical record.

As momentum builds towards the October 2026 deposit, there are increasing calls for broader institutional alignment and sustained investment in archival systems, positioning Nigeria as a potential leader in long-term data preservation on the continent.

With plans already underway for the next deposit, stakeholders say the initiative marks the beginning of a sustained effort to ensure that Nigeria’s cultural, historical and institutional records are preserved for generations to come.