Developing a Heritage Volunteer Programme for Archaeological Sites in Akwa Ibom State

Heritage volunteer programmes can significantly extend the reach of under-resourced heritage management institutions by mobilizing community members, students, and interested citizens as active participants in monitoring, documentation, and public engagement activities at archaeological sites. This study develops a viable heritage volunteer programme model for archaeological sites in Akwa Ibom State, drawing on programme evaluation literature, comparative analysis of successful volunteer schemes at heritage sites across Africa, and stakeholder consultation with the NCMM, state government, secondary schools, and community leaders. A needs assessment conducted across eight archaeological localities in the state identified monitoring and documentation as the functions most amenable to volunteer contribution given current staffing levels and site conditions. Programme design components developed through a co-design process include a volunteer recruitment pathway, a twelve-hour induction training curriculum covering archaeological basics, site recording skills, and safety protocols, a supervision structure linking volunteers to NCMM-trained site monitors, and a recognition and retention scheme. A six-month pilot of the programme was conducted at two sites, involving thirty-two volunteers from adjacent communities and two secondary schools. Pilot evaluation results indicate that volunteers successfully documented forty-three condition change events across the two sites during the pilot period, compared to three events recorded by NCMM staff alone over the same period. Retention rates were high, with twenty-eight of thirty-two initial volunteers completing the full pilot. The study recommends state-wide rollout with dedicated programme coordination funding. Keywords: heritage volunteers, Akwa Ibom State, site management, community engagement, volunteer programme.