ABUJA, NIGERIA — An indigenous non-profit, the Mairo Women Foundation (MWF), has announced the launch of a two-year project aimed at preserving the cultural heritage of the original inhabitants of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The initiative comes amid intensified campaigns by FCT youth and women’s groups seeking redress for over four decades of alleged historic injustices and marginalisation experienced by the indigenous peoples.
Roots of Displacement
The crisis dates back to 1976 when Nigeria’s Supreme Military Council, under General Murtala Mohammed, issued Decree 6. This decree led to the arbitrary takeover of the ancestral lands to establish the FCT, resulting in the displacement of the indigenous population and a significant decline in their cultural traditions and heritage.
According to Maryam Isah Barnabas, Executive Director of the Mairo Women Foundation, the new project will use “evidence-based capacity building and advocacy” to combat the threats facing these communities.
Focus on Traditional Pottery
The MWF project, titled Promoting the Rights of FCT Original Inhabitants, is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation through the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED).
A key focus of the initiative is the preservation and revitalisation of traditional pottery. This craft is specifically highlighted due to the global recognition achieved through the work of indigenous artists, such as the late Dr. Ladi Kwali. The foundation aims to protect the threatened ethics, treasures, and artefacts whose identities have been endangered by rapid urbanisation and neglect.
Empowering Women and Youth
A core goal of the project is to use cultural preservation as a catalyst for economic empowerment. Through carefully designed apprenticeship programs, young indigenous women will be trained in traditional knowledge and skills like pot making.
The foundation expects the project to lead to a revival of the unique cultural identity of the original inhabitants and empower historically marginalised groups, including women, youth, and people with disabilities, by providing new economic avenues in a period of mounting hardship. The project also intends to foster cultural exchange with indigenous groups across Africa and globally.
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