Nigerian Archivists Celebrate International Archives Day #IAD 2024 In Ibadan, Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Bayelsa

Members of the Nigerian Society of Archivists (SNA) recently gathered across the country to celebrate International Archives Day #IAD 2024

The event held in different parts of the country including Ibadan, Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna and Bayelsa States from Thursday June 6 to Monday June 10.

The event was organised by SNA under the leadership of its President, Mrs Grace Yemisi Oyebo.

 

L-R Prof Abiola Abioye, Dr C.A.Akangbe, Prof G.O Alegbeleye, Mr Ogundipe and Mrs Grace Temilolu Ikenna, FSNA

The SNA South West Region held its event with the theme: ''Archives, Governance, Memory and Heritage," on Saturday June 8, at the Undergraduates RM, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

The Keynote Speaker at the event was Professor Ademola Ajayi, while the host was Professor Olutayo Adesina, FNAL.

The event was put together by the Society of Nigerian Archivists and the South West Region of SNA.

L-R Dr C.A Akangbe,  Prof.G.O Alegbeleye, Prof S.A. Ajayi and Dr Adeila George.

The Coordinator of SNA, South West Region is Dr Adeola George, FSNA, while the Assistant Regional Coordinator is Mrs Grace Temilolu Ikenna, FSNA. Also present was the distinguished Elder of the SNA, Professor Gabriel Olubunmi Alegbeleye. The programme Coordinator was Professor Abiola Abioye. Also in attendance was Mr Idris Ogundipe from the National Archives, Ibadan, Dr. Lateef Adeniran, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo and
Dr. Ayo Oguntade, The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso
Lagos chapter of the SNA also celebrated International Archives Day #IAD2024 in conjunction with the National Library of Nigeria, Lagos.

The theme is: “Archives and Cyber Security” and it held on Thursday June 6, 2024 at 11:00am at the National Library of Nigeria, 227 Herbert Macaulay Way, Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos under the leadership of Mrs Yemisi Grace Oyebo and SNA, Lagos Regional Coordinator, Dr Kolawole Oseni.

Also, the North Central Region would have its event rescheduled with the theme; “Archives Governance, Memory and Heritage" on Radio at Ray Power 100.5FM, Abuja, Nigeria. The Lead Speaker is Professor Olutayo Adesina FNAL, while the Programme Coordinator, North Central Region, is Grace Temilolu Ikenna, FSNA.

Also, SNA South-South Region in collaboration with the Bayelsa State History and Archives office, Yenagoa held the week with archivists, historians, librarians, records managers and related professionals on Thursday June 8 from 10:00am.

The day featured a seminal public lecture with the theme: “Archives and Cyber Security in Nigeria: Imperatives for Navigating New Archival Data Paradigm.”

The Chief Host was Mrs Yemisi Oyebo, President SNA, Special Guests of Honour, was Professor Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa, Emeritus Professor of History, and Pioneer Senior Archivist of the National Archives of Nigeria.

The Guest of honour was Mrs Grace Temilolu Ikenna, FSNA, General Secretary, SNA, while the Lead Speaker was Professor Stephen Temegha Olali, LmHSN, South South Region Coordinator/Ex-officio Member of the SNA National Council.

On Monday June 10, the SNA, North-West Region in collaboration with the Kaduna State University, held the International Archives Day #IAD 2024 with the theme: “Archives Preserving our Past, Shaping our Future.”

Sensitization held on Monday June 10, 2024 at 11:00am at KASU FM 98.5, while Advocacy Talk had earlier held on Friday June 7, 2024 at 10:00am in ABU, Zaria.

The Convener was Dr Allahmagani Khali, while SNA North-West Regional Leader is Dr Bube Abdulkarin Aliyu, the Host was Dr Babangida Umar Dangani, and the Chief Host was Professor Abdullahi I. Musa.

Speaking about the event, the President of SNA, Mrs Yemisi Grace Oyebo, said that the event was another way of promoting the importance of record keeping in Nigeria.

Mrs Oyebo stressed that members of the society would continue to do their best to ensure that Nigerians embrace record keeping for reference and future purposes.

"We want members of the public to see archives and record keeping as important. We will continue to do our best and we hope to organise more programmes in this direction.

"There is no doubt that Nigeria is lagging behind in this area, but it is never too late to start from somewhere. The theme of the event was specially chosen and we will ensure that we make it as clear as possible at the event," she said.

Oyebo stressed that the state of records keeping in the country needed urgent attention if the nation must salvage and protect her historical legacy items in families, business organizations, financial institutions, religious groups, traditional institutions, government institutions and the entire nation.

“This is what the revamped SNA is trying to correct and we will not relent until we achieve our aims on the long run.

“The Society of Nigerian Archivists, on behalf of Nigeria re-joined ICA this year, in our efforts to collaborate with the rest of the world that have embraced the state-of-the-art record-keeping standards; so that we will resume back keeping important records and information resources for future reference and the use of the coming generations,” she said.

Mrs Oyebo called on the Federal Government to see proper record keeping as a priority by reviewing and implementing the National Archives Act of 1992, and by empowering the National Archives across the country in different ways to make our dreams to meet up with other professional Archivists in the developed world come true.

She said: “We have brilliant Archivists, Record Keepers, Historians, Librarians, and Heritage keepers in our country; we only need a forward-looking government that will give us enabling resources, the right environment, and proper governance structure to be able to harness our talents and bring back the lost glory of archiving and record keeping in Nigeria.”

She stated further tghat SNA will come up with other ideas to promote record keeping in the country "so that we can use our today to preserve our tomorrow."