International Archives Week : Importance Of Records Highlighted

The 4th edition of the international archives week has been launched in Douala. The launching ceremony in Douala on June 9, 2022 saw the population and the administration being sensitised on the importance of archives. This year’s celebration peg under the theme “Archives Are You” is aimed at inviting archival and records management professionals and organizations to deliberate on what it means to be an archivist and what archival records truly reflect.  The week is also aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of records and archives, raise awareness among senior decision-makers of the benefits of records management for good governance and development, improve the public, private and public sectors' understanding of the necessity of long-term archival preservation and access, showcase the unique, extraordinary, and rare documents preserved in archival institutions and advance.
During the launching event in Douala, the Director of the National Archives, Esther Olembe reiterated that archives are important because they provide evidence of activities and tell more about individuals and institutions. They tell stories and increase a sense of identity and understanding of cultures and can even ensure justice. She added that archives are witnesses to the past, they provide evidence, explanation and justification both for past actions and current decisions. For her, archives enable society to undertake a wide range of roles that enable civilised communities...