Abuja’s Forgotten Roots Get A Voice As UniAbuja, CHRICED Launch Heritage Centre Plan
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
For decades, Abuja’s rapid growth has often overshadowed the history of its original inhabitants.
A new partnership between the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education and the University of Abuja aims to change that.
Both institutions on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Abuja Original Inhabitants Centre at the university, a facility designed to preserve, research and promote the history, culture and rights of Abuja’s indigenous communities.
Vice Chancellor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi described the proposed centre as a future international hub of excellence, assuring stakeholders of the university’s full backing to ensure its success.
CHRICED Executive Director Ibrahim Zikirullahi said the centre would serve as both a cultural archive and a policy research hub for scholars across Africa, helping to deepen conversations around indigenous identity, inclusion and development.
He disclosed that the project, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, could begin construction as early as next month once architectural approvals are secured.
Stakeholders at the signing expressed optimism that the initiative would not only restore a stronger sense of identity for Abuja’s original inhabitants but also position the university as a leading centre for indigenous studies on the continent.
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