The Role of Literature in Listing Heritage Building and Monuments in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The cultural history, historical values, social values, economic strength, and architectural styles of a people are embedded in the old buildings of the past, including those of the state of Rivers and Nigeria in general. The concept of listing, conserving, restoring, and reusing heritage buildings as a global practice has been identified as a means of preserving the architectural history and culture of the state of Rivers. This paper examines the concept of listing heritage buildings and its domestication in listing historical buildings in Rivers State in order to help indigenous people to identify, appraise, preserve, restore, and conserve the embedded historical and cultural values of such old buildings as a tool for sustainable development in the State. At the conclusion of the study, the listed buildings and monuments in Nigeria were identified, along with the criteria for listing buildings and the technique for determining the level of repair, preservation, and care of listed buildings and monuments.