Webinars Enhancing Awareness of Digital Preservation Tools and Strategies To Bridge Nigeria's Preservation Knowledge Gap

Abstract

Digital preservation is crucial for ensuring the lasting accessibility and usability of digital heritage, particularly in areas encountering infrastructural and skill-related obstacles. In Nigeria, where cultural data and archival resources face threats from outdated technology and restricted institutional capacity, webinars are becoming an effective means to close the gap between knowledge and practice in digital preservation. This research examines how webinars contribute to increasing awareness, encouraging the adoption of digital preservation tools, and enhancing professional skills among information professionals in Nigeria. Based on a sequence of webinars organized by Nigerian librarians together with global experts, the paper emphasizes how these online platforms provide scalable, inclusive, and affordable training options. It also addresses the challenges faced, including inadequate internet connectivity and limited access to digital resources, and proposes methods for improving the effectiveness of webinars. The results indicate that participants developed a better understanding and increased confidence in using preservation tools and techniques. In general, the research highlights the significance of embracing creative, technology-based methods such as webinars to promote a lasting culture of digital preservation in emerging areas. It promotes the incorporation of webinars into national policies and training structures to guarantee wider involvement and sustained preservation of Africa’s digital legacy.