National Archives of Nigeria

The National Archives of Nigeria has its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, with branches in Enugu, Ibadan, and Kaduna.The National Archives Kaduna is located at 6 Yakubu Gowon Way, Kaduna.^[1] As of 2024, the current Director of Archives is Mrs Evelyn Odigbo.^[2][3]

History of Ibadan archive

Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike did a survey of Nigerian public records from 1951 to 1953. Based on what was found, he made a recommendation to have a public record office.^[4] This led to the founding of the Nigerian Record Office on April 1, 1954.^[4][5] In 1957, the Public Archives Ordinance No. 43 was enacted and became effective on November 14, 1957. It changed the name of the archives to become the National Archives of Nigeria.^[4]

The archive was housed at the University of Ibadan until 1958.^[6]

The Federal Government provided £51,000 to create the first permanent building in Ibadan in the First Economic Programme, 1955–60. This building officially opened on January 9, 1959.^[7]

Past Leadership

• Kenneth Dike was originally appointed the Government Supervisor of Public Records and then the Director of the Archives from 1954 to 1963.^[4][6] He is also considered to be the father of the Nigerian Archives.^[4]
• Lloyd C. Gwam followed soon afterwards on April 1, 1964, to become the Director of the Archives until his death on July 2, 1965.^[4]
• S.O. Sowoolu succeeded Mr. Gwam and is credited for starting the expansion of the archives.^[4]

Locations

The National Archives of Nigeria has fifteen offices.^[4] The three main archive locations are zonal offices. Each location keeps records of colonial administration relating to its particular region, along with newspapers and official government publications.^[4]

Zonal offices

• Enugu (east, est. 1958)^[8]
• Ibadan (west, est. 1958)^[9]
• Kaduna (north, est. 1957)

Main building of the National archives Ibadan.

National Archives of Nigeria, Ibadan

Branch offices

• Abeokuta (est. 1989)^[4]
• Abuja (headquarters)^[1][4]
• Akure (est. 1985)^[4]
• Benin (est. 1982)^[4]
• Calabar (est. 1986)^[4]
• Ilorin (est. 1985)^[4]
• Jos (est. 1989)^[4]
• Lagos^[4]
• Maiduguri (est. 2005)^[4]
• Owerri (est. 1986)^[4]
• Port Harcourt (est. 1986)^[4]
• Sokoto (est. 1982)^[4]

Professional memberships

National

• Historical Society of Nigeria^[4]
• Oral History/Tradition Association of Nigeria^[4]
• Society of Nigerian Archivists^[4]

Regional

• Society of African Archivists^[4]
• West African Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (WARBICA)^[4]

International

• Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Record Managers^[4]
• International Council on Archives (ICA)^[4]
• International Records Management Council^[4]

See also

• National Library of Nigeria
• List of national archives