About PublicRecords.ng
Preserving Nigeria's documentary heritage for future generations
Our Mission
PublicRecords.ng exists to preserve, protect, and provide public access to Nigeria's documentary heritage. We are a citizen-driven digital archive where Nigerians can freely upload, discover, and share official and historical documents that shape our national story — from government gazettes and bylaws to court rulings, ordinances, public notices, and other records of enduring civic importance.
Our mission is simple: to make Nigeria's public documents truly public — accessible to all, safeguarded for the future, and digitally preserved as part of our collective memory.
Why We Exist
Across Nigeria, countless public documents lie scattered, deteriorating in offices, private collections, and storage rooms. Many of these materials — the foundations of our administrative and legal history — are lost to time or remain inaccessible to citizens who need them.
PublicRecords.ng was created to bridge this access gap by offering a reliable, organised, and open digital space where anyone can contribute to the preservation of public information. By doing so, we help protect the nation's administrative memory and strengthen transparency, accountability, and civic education.
What We Offer
A Digital Archive of Public Records
A growing, searchable repository of authentic Nigerian public documents spanning colonial, post-colonial, and contemporary eras.
Free and Open Access
All verified public domain documents are freely accessible to citizens, researchers, journalists, and students.
Community Contribution
Registered users can upload, describe, and tag documents to enrich the collective database.
Metadata and Verification
Each upload is reviewed for authenticity, accuracy, and public domain status before publication.
Permanent Preservation
We use digital archiving tools to ensure that today's uploads remain available for generations to come.
Our Guiding Principles
Transparency and Access
Public information belongs to the public.
Accuracy and Integrity
Every record is preserved and presented without alteration.
Heritage through Technology
Modern tools are used to preserve the past.
Community Participation
Every Nigerian is a potential archivist and contributor.
Education and Empowerment
Access to records empowers informed citizenship and historical understanding.
Who We Are
PublicRecords.ng is an initiative of the Institute for Historical Studies, Biographical Research, Documentation and Legacy (IHS-BiRD & L) — a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving Nigeria's histories and legacies through research, documentation, and digital innovation.
Through this platform, IHS-BiRD & L advances its vision of ensuring that Nigeria's history is defined by Nigerian voices and that vital records, once scattered and forgotten, become part of the nation's shared digital heritage.
Our Broader Vision
We envision a Nigeria where access to information is not a privilege but a civic right. By making public documents discoverable and permanent, we contribute to a culture of transparency, accountability, and informed citizenship — one document at a time.
Get Involved
You can play a part in preserving Nigeria's memory.
Upload
Share a public record or historical document.
Support
Partner with us to expand the archive or digitise local records.
Together, we can ensure that no piece of Nigeria's public history is lost to time.
Stay Connected
Follow us on social media for the latest updates, featured records, and community highlights.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Join thousands of Nigerians who are already contributing to preserving our nation's history.