MINREX staff sharpen skills on preserving archives.

MINREX officials during the workshop

Some personnel of the Ministry of External Relations, MINREX, especially those of the Department of Communication, Documentation and Diplomatic Archives, have upgraded their skills on the conservation of archives, mails and records that contain facts and crucial information for the country. 



This was during a two-day capacity building workshop held in Yaounde. The workshop was held under the theme: “Cyber Archives: The role of archives in the digital transformation of Cameroon’s diplomacy”.

 

Chaired by the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, on behalf of Minister Mbella Mbella, the workshop had as aimed to hone the expertise of MINREX staff on the preservation of archives at the Ministry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Mbayu reiterated that archives are historical records for consultation, and the life wire to the history of a people.

He said the workshop, though organised at a later date due to time constrains as a result of conflicting professional calendars, was organised within the framework of the International Archives Week.

Minister Mbayu furthered that with a fast evolving digital landscape and considering the interdisciplinary nature of archives, it was important for archiving personnel at MINREX to be better equipped with new skills so they can better face the challenges of digital archiving.

“This workshop is an opportunity for the Ministry of External Relations to showcase its archives as a tool for informed decision making, transparency and the preservation of the cultural heritage of our country,” Mbayu stated.

The Deputy Director of the country’s National Archives, Ernestine Lukong, expressed contentment that their advocacy and sensitisation is finally yielding fruits as more Cameroonians are collaborating to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the country for future generations.

For the President of the Association of Cameroonian Archivists, Marc Florent Essomba, archives or records destroyed or lost cannot be reserved, hence the need for the its preservation, especially with the use of technology.

For two days, the stakeholders through roundtable discussions at the seminar focused on the place of archives in digital transformation, as well as the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence in archiving.

They equally discussed the impact of technological advancements in the field of archiving, and raising the awareness of the general public on the new methods of consulting diplomatic archives.

 

 

 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3162 of Monday July 8, 2024

 

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