Society of Nigerian Archivists, SNA Celebrates International Archives Day, Seeks Recognition of Record Keeping

The Society of Nigerian Archivists (SNA) joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Archives Day on June 9, 2022, a day set aside for Archivists.

The theme for this year’s celebration is; “#ArchivesAreYou.”

SNA celebrated the day with a virtual symposium that exposed members to professional talks on what it means to be an Archivist and what Archival Records truly reflect.

Another topic treated during the symposium was “Let’s Talk About Records, Archives and Emerging Technologies,” and questions were taken from young/new professionals, while members discussed what’s in place for them with SNA membership.

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of SNA, Mrs. Grace Yemisi Oyebo, made members to understand the issues surrounding the society and why it was essential for members to participate in its activities.

The first session (Talk 1) was anchored by Professor Abiola Abioye, an experienced Archivist and legal practitioner from the Dept of Library, Archival & Information Science, University of Ibadan and Dr. Stephen Olali, Chief Historian and Senior Archivist of Bayelsa State.

The second session (Talk 2) on “Emerging Technologies in the Profession,” was anchored by one of the founding fathers of SNA, Professor Emeritus, Gabriel Bunmi Alegbeleye.

The questions & answers session was jointly anchored by the Director of Archives & Record Management from the Lagos State Records & Archive Mgt Bureau (LASRAB), Dr. Kolawole Oseni, all the discussants, and Mrs. Ronke Alonge from the National Archives Lagos, representing the Director of National Archives, Mrs. Evelyn Odigboh, who later joined and closed the symposium.

The discussants spoke on the need to create awareness for the society and the profession, saying that Nigerians needed to be educated on the importance of record keeping in various organisations; both private and government as well as agencies, parastatals and other formations.

They said that Archives represent an unparalleled wealth, adding that they are the documentary product of human activity and as such constitute irreplaceable testimonies of past events.

“They ensure the democratic functioning of societies, the identity of individuals and communities and the defense of human rights.

“Archives record decisions, actions and memories. Archives are a unique and irreplaceable heritage passed from one generation to another. Archives are managed from creation to preserve their value and meaning.

“They are authoritative sources of information underpinning accountable and transparent administrative actions. They play an essential role in the development of societies by safeguarding and contributing to individual and community memory.

“Open access to archives enriches our knowledge of human society, promotes democracy, protects citizens’ rights and enhances the quality of life,” they said.

Other members, who participated in the symposium, also contributed intelligently with a promise to continue to promote and project the noble profession of archiving.

Mrs. Yemisi Oyebo had said after the inauguration of the SNA Caretaker Committee recently that, “my plan is to move the society forward and ensure that Nigerians understand the roles of archivists in offices, education institutions, establishments, financial institutions, agencies, corporate organisations and others.

“People don’t understand the works of archivists, but we must know that we need to keep records; both soft and hard for future purposes and immediate usage.

“We have members in many places, so we want all of us to come together so that we can plan our activities and protect the interest of our members,” she said, adding that the committee members would work round the clock to make things happen in the society.

International Archives Day is traced to June 9, 1948, when the International Council on Archives was created under the auspices of the UNESCO.

During the 2004 International Congress in Vienna, 2000 attending participants adopted a resolution requesting that the United Nations (UN) designates a specific day to mark the importance and value of archives.

This choice was immediately approved and adopted by the archives community as a whole.

Subsequently, it was decided at the 2007 International Council on Archives (ICA) Annual General Meeting that June 9 would be celebrated as International Archives Day. The date, June 9, was chosen to commemorate the date ICA was created under the auspices of UNESCO in 1948.

Universal Declaration on Archives was adopted at the General Assembly of the International Council on Archives, Oslo, in September 2010.

International Archives Day is intended to raise awareness of the importance of records and archives, in order to make members understand that records and archives provide the foundation for people’s rights and identity.

Also, this day is a time to raise the private and public sectors’ awareness of the necessity of preserving archives for the long term and of providing access to them.