The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has begun construction of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Heritage Centre, a project the organization’s leader described as a monument to justice and inclusion for the Federal Capital Territory’s indigenous people.
The foundation stone was formally laid by Professor John Palfrey, President of the MacArthur Foundation, a key project partner.
A New Chapter of Inclusion
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend in Abuja, Dr. Zikirullahi M. Ibrahim, Executive Director of CHRICED, promised that the Centre would mark the end of historical neglect, marginalisation, and injustice faced by the Abuja Original Inhabitants (OIs).
“Today, we do not merely break ground. We break silence. We break cycles of exclusion. We break through the walls of invisibility,” Dr. Ibrahim stated, emphasising that the Centre is “not just concrete and steel; it is a living monument to justice. A sanctuary of memory. A lighthouse for dignity.”
He paid tribute to the MacArthur Foundation and other development partners for their unwavering support in the Centre’s construction and their longstanding collaboration in advocacy for the rights of the FCT natives. He also thanked the University of Abuja and other stakeholders for helping to make the project a reality
Centre for History, Culture, and Justice
The Heritage Centre is envisioned as a world-class cultural institution and a reference point for justice. Dr. Ibrahim described it as an “institution for Justice for the Abuja Original Inhabitants” that will serve multiple critical functions:
Preservation and Celebration: It will showcase the rich history, legacy, and culture of the FCT indigenous people.
Research and Advocacy: The Centre will function as a study hub for indigenous rights in Nigeria, a platform for research, dialogue, and civic engagement.
Reclaiming History: Its purpose is to reclaim the history of the OIs, affirming that cultural recognition is a democratic right and dispelling the notion that Abuja was ever a “virgin land.”
“This Centre will serve as a bridge between culture and citizenship, between memory and justice,” Dr. Ibrahim added.
Commitment from the MacArthur Foundation
In his address, Professor Palfrey of the MacArthur Foundation acknowledged the rich culture of the FCT inhabitants.
He pledged the Foundation’s determination to ensure the project’s timely completion, noting that the Centre is set to become a world-class institution for indigenous communities and an academic space for study.
Dr. Ibrahim concluded by thanking the MacArthur Foundation for “believing in this vision” and the European Union (EU) and other partners for their commitment to democracy, human rights, and community empowerment. He stressed that the project reaffirms a simple truth: “democracy cannot flourish where heritage is erased.”
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