A DISCUSSION OF THE CHALLENGES CONFRONTING ARCHAEOLOGY AND ITS PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

There is no gain in saying that archaeology and archaeological practice in Nigeria is yet to
achieve the desired results, particularly as it is yet to fully meet the needs of society,
and largely contribute to problem-solving in contemporary terms. This is seemingly not
unconnected to the fact that the practice of archaeology in the country is faced with a lot of
challenges, especially in recent times. Thus, the aim of this research is to discuss the
nature of some of these challenges and make some suggestions that can largely improve
archaeological practice in the country. The research draws from past/recent concerns that
have negatively impacted archaeology and its practice in the country. Much of the data for
this research has been elicited from primary and secondary sources. The paper notes that
the benefits of archaeology and its practice to Nigeria and her citizens are enormous and
therefore, adequate to give all cultural heritage (CH) stakeholders a strong motivation
towards repositioning the discipline. Doing this appropriately implies that, Nigeria has
begun the journey towards benefiting from the numerous opportunities presented by the
discipline for sustainable development.

A_Discussion_of_the_Challenges_Confronti A DISCUSSION OF THE CHALLENGES CONFRONTING ARCHAEOLOGY AND ITS PRACTICE IN NIGERIA