Nigeria Unveils Digital Nok Heritage Project To Bring 2,000-Year-Old Civilisation To The World
Nigeria is turning to digital technology to preserve one of Africa’s oldest civilisations, as government officials and international partners unveiled an immersive heritage project designed to ensure the story of the ancient Nok people reaches future generations.
The Wheyham Foundation, in partnership with the United States Embassy, Yale University and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), premiered the documentary Nok Culture: History, Art and Civilization and launched an immersive Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) experience at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Abuja on Tuesday.
Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the initiative demonstrates how digital preservation can complement the protection of physical artefacts, making Nigeria’s cultural heritage accessible to people who may never visit the historic Nok sites in Kaduna State.
She noted that the project forms part of the cultural preservation grant agreement signed between the Federal Government and the U.S. Embassy under the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
Speaking as Special Guest of Honour, Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd) described the Nok civilisation as a source of national pride, stressing that preserving history also strengthens national identity and unity.
Musa, who hails from Southern Kaduna, said the project would help introduce more young Nigerians to the achievements of one of Africa’s earliest civilisations while protecting priceless cultural treasures from theft, vandalism and illicit trafficking.
Chairman Wheyham Foundation, Barrister Yahaya Maikori, said more than 250 Nok artefacts have been digitally catalogued, museum facilities upgraded, thousands of visitors engaged through exhibitions, and immersive technologies deployed to transform how audiences experience Nigeria’s ancient history.
He added that the next phase of the initiative will expand digital documentation, modernise museums, promote cultural tourism and deepen youth participation in heritage preservation.
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