ISSUE 1

What Happened When Nigeria Kidnapped a Wanted Former Minister in London

Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Britain went completely sour for two years in the 1980s. Here is the story of what caused the rift.

I read old newspapers every day for two weeks

What can we learn about Nigeria by going back 28 years in the past?

Nigeria's political third force, from 1960 to Peter Obi

The criteria for becoming a third force candidate changed across Nigeria’s four republics. Here is the story of how the changes happened

Ejigbo plane crash ahead of Independence Day in 1992

The Year Nigeria Could Not Celebrate Independence Day

Nigeria is usually upbeat around October 1, but something was different about 1992.

Poster announcing the Archivi.ng Fellowship from November 2024 to April 2025. It invites historians, journalists, artists, and creators to apply

Join the Archivi.ng Fellowship: Help Us Uncover Nigeria’s History

We are launching The Archivi.ng Fellowship, a six-month, multidisciplinary programme designed to enhance the world’s understanding of Nigerian history in engaging and meaningful ways.

A shaded WAEC answer sheet that doubles as an examination hall (the boxes on the answer sheet also being tables).

These Were Nigeria's 100 Brightest Teenagers in 2009. Where Are They Now?

One hundred students, listed as the top performers in the 2009 WASSCE. What happened to them in a period that spans four presidencies? What did they study? And, most importantly, where are they now?

The Economics of Archiving old newspapers

It should be simple—gaining access to old newspapers, digitising them, and making them accessible—but it’s not. Each stage is an obstacle, and each obstacle is sweat, tears, and, most of all, money.

Finding Love in a Newspaper

In the time before digital matchmaking, hidden within the pages of newspapers were personal ads that served those looking for companionship and love.

Picture of the five guests and moderator

The Archivi.ng Roundtable: What would You Do With Five Million Old Newspaper Pages?

For the guests of The Archivi.ng Roundtable, five million pages are a treasure waiting to be rediscovered, reinterpreted, and reintroduced to the world through their work.

Editor's Note

With The Archivist, we want to cultivate a deeper understanding and interaction with Nigerian history, increasing awareness and appreciation of the archives.