Indigenous Knowledge Documentation and Preservation in National Museums in Nigeria: An Information Management Perspective

This study examines indigenous knowledge documentation and preservation practices in national museums in Nigeria from an information management perspective, with case evidence from the National Museum Benin, the National War Museum Umuahia, and the National Museum Jos. Indigenous knowledge represents a critical but fragile component of Nigeria's cultural heritage, and its systematic documentation and preservation require professional information management competencies that museum administrative staffs may lack. The research employs a qualitative case study design, targeting museum curators, archivists, documentation officers, and information management specialists. Semi-structured interviews, documentation audit guides, and artefact record analysis instruments serve as data collection tools. The Indigenous Knowledge Documentation Framework and the Cultural Heritage Information Management Model provide the theoretical anchors, with literature from 2020 to 2024 on cultural information management in Africa supporting the analysis. The study evaluates documentation systems for artefacts, oral traditions, and practice records, examining completeness, accessibility, and digital preservation adequacy. Recommendations target the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. Keywords: indigenous knowledge, documentation, national museums, Nigeria, cultural heritage