By Joe Nock
In a landmark meeting held on September 26, a delegation led by the new Kpop Nok, Mr. Ngumi Babadogo—comprising a renown curator and museum expert (Chief Linus Kasai Kingi), representatives of the Wheyham Foundation, and cultural advocate Mrs. Tirnok Andrew—met with Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) to deliberate on the preservation and promotion of the world-renowned Nok heritage.
The session, described by participants as both “historic and strategic,” was convened to review ongoing initiatives of the Wheyham Foundation as well as follow up on requests earlier presented by the traditional institution of Nok land.
Key Submissions
In his address, the Kpop Nok emphasized urgent interventions to protect and promote the Nok legacy. His submissions included:
Improved road access to the Nok Museum to enhance local and international tourism.
Production and distribution of literature on Nok civilization to strengthen global awareness.
Preparation for the centenary celebration of the Nok Discovery, a milestone expected to attract global attention.
Support for Mrs. Tirnok Andrew’s NGO partnership initiative, aimed at driving community-based cultural projects.
From the Wheyham Foundation, key highlights included:
Plans to premiere a Nok Documentary in Lagos, Abuja, Frankfurt, New York, and London.
Completion of the upgrading of the Museum Gallery infrastructure, currently at an advanced but unfinished stage.
Deployment of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences to enrich visitor engagement at the museum.
A comprehensive digital archiving project to document 250 Nok artifacts and cultural pieces.
CDS Response
Responding to the submissions, the Chief of Defense Staff commended the delegation for its visionary outlook and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to supporting national heritage initiatives. He stressed the need for the Nok Documentary to be launched within 2025, with clear timelines and milestones.
He also expressed keen interest in the architectural redesign of the Nok Museum Gallery, requesting detailed plans for consideration. Furthermore, the CDS inquired about the progress of the Nok heritage website, particularly its potential to host accessible literature, research, and digital resources.
Next Steps
The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap:
1. Submission of proposed timelines and venues for the documentary launch.
2. Delivery of architectural designs for the upgraded gallery.
3. Presentation of the Nok website’s progress report, with emphasis on digital literature uploads.
4. An outlined framework for NGO support initiatives linked to Mrs. Tirnok Andrew.
5. Consolidation of all requests into a structured to-do list with defined priorities.
A New Dawn for Nok Heritage
The meeting, observers note, represents a fresh chapter in the ongoing efforts to preserve the Nok civilization—one of Africa’s most significant archaeological legacies, dating back over 2,000 years. By bringing together traditional leadership, international partners, and national institutions, the Nok people are signaling their resolve to project their heritage onto the global stage.
As the centenary of the Nok discovery approaches, stakeholders are optimistic that these initiatives will not only safeguard priceless cultural assets but also redefine Nok land as a hub for tourism, scholarship, and global cultural diplomacy.