Unlocking millions of Nigerian memories for digital preservation and sustainability
Folasade Adepoju
How do we preserve our past and guide against issues that gave rise to the Boko Haram mayhem of the North East, the herders/famers clash which spread across North Central and extending to the Southern part of Nigeria, how do we ensure that we’ve learnt our lessons from the EndSars incidents, the flash flood of Lokoja in 2022, the banditry and kidnapping cases that we hear about daily if we don’t digitally preserve our history.
Floods, a consequence of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, have wreaked havoc on our physical archives. Roofs are leaking, and water is relentlessly damaging precious documents that hold the keys to our history. The memories of our people, stored in these fragile repositories, are fading away with every passing day.
But this isn't just a loss of the past—it's a significant impediment to our future. A nation that cannot remember where it came from cannot navigate where it is going. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to create a better and more sustainable future for all, rely heavily on a country's ability to learn from its history, adapt, and innovate. Without preserving our memories, our progress towards these goals is severely hindered.
However, there is hope. Digital preservation offers a beacon of light in these dark times. By converting our physical archives into digital formats, we can protect them from the elements and ensure their longevity. Digital archives can be easily replicated and stored in multiple locations, providing a safeguard against disasters that could otherwise erase our history.
Yet, the task ahead is monumental and cannot be achieved in isolation. We are bleeding for partnerships—collaborations with governmental bodies, private sectors, international organizations, and passionate individuals. Together, we can pool resources, share expertise, and develop innovative solutions to preserve Nigeria's memories.
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