Enhancing the Preservation of Indigenous Knowledge through Institutional Repositories: The Role of Metadata Standards in Selected Nigerian University Libraries

Indigenous knowledge, largely transmitted through oral traditions, is increasingly threatened by modernization, globalization, and inadequate documentation practices. While institutional repositories in Nigerian universities offer opportunities for preservation, conventional metadata standards such as Dublin Core, MODS, and METS have proven insufficient in capturing the cultural context and complexity of indigenous knowledge. This gap motivates the need to examine how metadata standards can better support its preservation and accessibility. This study focuses on assessing the effectiveness of metadata standards in preserving indigenous knowledge within thirty (20) selected Nigerian universities with 30 respondents. It evaluates current preservation practices, identifies the metadata standards in use, and examines challenges affecting their implementation. A descriptive research design was adopted, targeting librarians and repository managers in institutions with functional repositories. Data were collected through structured instruments and analyzed to determine the adequacy and limitations of existing metadata frameworks. Findings reveal that although institutional repositories exist, indigenous knowledge is underrepresented due to inadequate metadata structures, lack of localization, and limited professional capacity. Existing standards do not fully accommodate the unique attributes of indigenous knowledge systems. The study concludes that effective preservation of indigenous knowledge requires the adaptation and development of culturally responsive metadata frameworks. It recommends the customization of existing standards, capacity building for information professionals, and the establishment of supportive policies to enhance documentation, accessibility, and long-term sustainability of indigenous knowledge resources