The government of the United States of America has awarded a $125,000 grant to preserve the Lejja iron-smelting site in the Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, South East of Nigeria.
The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation grant will be implemented by the Center for Memories-Ncheta Ndigbo under the Nchekwaba projects, to support digital documentation, conservation, and physical preservation of the historic iron-smelting site in Lejja.
The Enugu State Government, at the award ceremony held at the National Museum, Lagos, described the development as a historic milestone and a significant partnership in the effort to preserve the state’s cultural heritage for future generations.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, said preserving the Lejja archaeological site should be a collaborative effort.
“The people of Lejja must remain at the heart of the preservation process, as their knowledge and participation will be central to the site’s long-term sustainability and resilience,” he said.
The Deputy Governor further disclosed that the Enugu State Government is already preparing an Executive Bill to be forwarded to the State House of Assembly to provide a legal framework for the protection, preservation, and administration of the archaeological site.
Expressing the State Government’s appreciation to the United States Government for the grant, the Deputy Governor assures the Centre for Memories of collaborative commitment to the preservation and global promotion of the site.
“On behalf of our Governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, we appreciate the US Government for the grant, and we assure the Center for Memories of our collaboration to ensure that the story of Lejja is properly preserved, documented, and shared with the world,” he said.
The Lejja iron-smelting site is a prehistoric archaeological location in Enugu State, South East of Nigeria, dating back to around 2000 BC.
“It is known as one of the oldest and most significant early metallurgical centers in sub-Saharan Africa, the main village square at Otobo Ugwu contains over 800 massive iron slag blocks.”
Lejja Iron-smelting site is located about 15 km south of Nsukka town and over 800 heavy iron slag blocks remain in the site, weighing between 34 and 57 kg each.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Memories, charged with the implementation of the preservation, was launched in 2017; Centre for Memories – Ncheta Ndigbo (CFM) aims to safeguard and preserve the history and culture of the Igbo people, particularly the memories of significant events like the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War, the Aba Women’s War, and the Iva Valley Coal Mine massacre.
“By preventing erasure, the Centre ensures that critical lessons from the past are accessible to future generations. CFM’s mission is to establish the widest collection of historical Igbo artifacts, books, documents, photographs, memorabilia, oral narratives, and everything that preserves the past of Ndigbo.”
The Center for Memories – Ncheta Ndigbo (Nigeria) is located at number 2 Awgu Street, off Umuoji Street, Independence Layout, Enugu State, Nigeria.
- US Govt. Awards $125K Grant for Preservation of Lejja Iron-Smelting Site in Nsukka - August 24, 2026
- Enugu Governor Approves Appointment Of 23 Persons SPAs And SSAs - August 19, 2026
- Enugu Government Increases ESUT Monthly Subvention To N276 Million - August 19, 2026