Nigeria, U.S. Launch Platform To Preserve Nok Cultural Heritage

[00:00:00]The federal government in partnership with the United States Embassy and the way ham report foundation has unveiled a digital heritage platform aimed at preserving the ancient knock civilization using immersive technology.

[00:00:16]The initiative combines virtual reality, augmented reality, and digital documentation to safeguard more than 250 priceless artifacts while expanding public access to one of Africa's oldest civilizations. Mu'azu Thomas reports.

[00:00:35]>> More than 2,000 years after the knock civilization flourished in present-day Kaduna State, its remarkable history is entering the digital age.

[00:00:48]The federal government, the United States Embassy, and the way ham report foundation have launched an immersive digital heritage platform designed to preserve, document, and showcase Nigeria's ancient knock civilization through cutting-edge technology. The initiative has more than 250 artifacts in digital catalog, upgraded the knock museum, trained 50 young Nigerians in digital preservation, and introduced innovative systems to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural artifacts.

[00:01:19]>> artifact tracking. This provides a digital shield protecting Nigerian heritage from a multi-billion dollar trafficking industry while strengthening law enforcement cooperation that protects both our nation's security.

[00:01:31]American technology isn't just preserving culture, it's disrupting the criminal networks that threaten us both.

[00:01:38]>> This is an approach I aim to see used in the preservation of our other tangible and intangible cultural heritage across the country.

[00:01:47]>> Beyond preserving history, the Minister of Defense says the project demonstrates how technology can protect cultural heritage while making it accessible to millions of people around the world.

[00:02:00]>> The hills, valleys, and ancient iron smelting sites that feature in this remarkable history are places that are familiar to me now.

[00:02:08]They are part of my heritage and my identity, and I'm very proud of that.

[00:02:13]So, I stand before you today not only as a Minister of Defense, but as a proud son of the soil.

[00:02:18]As we say, it's son of the soil.

[00:02:21]From which one of Africa's earliest civilizations flourished. There is to most all most of all the museums in the world, there's almost no museum that's worth its salt that doesn't have a Nok artwork. There Some Some of them are so so plenty that they cannot even put them inside the museum. Some are kept in storage.

[00:02:40]And that's what we are hoping to do or we try to do to ensure that even if we don't have the physical access to some of these artworks, they are documented and kept in a central place.

[00:02:49]>> The project partners say they will continue to expand digital documentation, immersive heritage experiences, and archaeological research with the goal of preserving Nigeria's rich cultural legacy for future generations while promoting education, tourism, and the creative economy.

[00:03:07]Moyowa Thomas, TVC News, Abuja.