The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Library

  • ‘Library board committed to creating conducive environment for reading’

    ‘Library board committed to creating conducive environment for reading’

    Director, Lagos State Library Board, Mr. Ashimiyu Amoo Oyadipe, has reiterated the board’s commitment to creating an enabling environment, where pupils can read and explore.

    Speaking in Lagos during the World Book Day celebration, which the board organised in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education, Oyadipe described this year’s theme: “ Read your way” as apt, adding that it emphasises love and joy of reading.

    He stressed the importance of reading wide and urged pupils to take advantage of the 13 public libraries spread across the  state.

    “We are here to celebrate the joy of reading. This event emphasises the love of reading. Lagos Library board has sparked the interest of pupils in reading and passion for books. The World Book Day is more than a celebration of books, it is about the joy of reading. The board is dedicated to creating a conducive environment where pupils can read and explore. Reading expands vocabulary and sharpens skills. This year’s theme is about giving students a chance to read. There are 13 public libraries spread across districts in the state, students are advised to make use of public libraries closer to them,” he said.

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    Tutor-General/ Permanent Secretary of Education District II, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, advised pupils not to stop reading because, according to her, a generation that is not reading is a disaster.

    The TGPS, who was represented by Director of Education of District II, Mrs. Bosede Macaulay, said reading regularly was crucial to learning, relearning and unlearning.

     President, Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP), Richard Mammah urged pupils to build a reading culture because the most successful people on earth have a healthy reading culture and a personal library.

    Schools in attendance included Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun,  State Senior High School, Oyewole; Coker Senior Secondary School, Iganmu, among others. There were various presentations by pupils at the event.

  • School library gets facelift, others

    School library gets facelift, others

    A  real estate firm, Heritage Realtors, has renovated the library of St. Davids Anglican Primary School, Osoroko, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

    This is aimed at supporting education and grooming  responsible citizens.

    The company, through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm,  Bargain Books, replaced the school’s old and worn-out benches with more modern and comfortable chairs and tables.

    Other interventions include the installation of window blinds, provision of bookshelves, supply of over 500 books, provision of a computer and repainting of the library.

    The firm also said it will provide of four more teachers and a solar panel to ensure that there is constant electricity supply for powering the computer.

    Speaking on its CSR initiative, Director, Heritage Realtors, Olamide Elizabeth Adeleye, said everyone and every organisation has a responsibility to give back to the society, adding that Nigeria’s growth cannot be left solely in the hands of the government, but should be a collective responsibility.

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    According to her, one of the ways the nation’s problems can be tackled is by going back to the root.

    “We must cease discussing theories and wade into the fray. It has been said that the ‘leadership of any society is a representative sample of that society.’ In essence, our community is a microcosm of the country. If we want a Nigeria with a bright future, it starts now. It starts with the youths; it starts with ensuring that they are well equipped to be visionary and thought leaders,” Adeleye said.

    The Head Teacher, Amodu Olatunji, thanked  the company for the support and the initiative.

  • Foundation opens women library

    Foundation opens women library

    The Akanke Women Library and Resource Centre (AWLARC), an offshoot of Akanke Foundation, has been inaugurated in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

    The centre was set up to immortalise the Late Mrs Felicia Akanke Obasa, mother of Idowu Obasa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Winners Golden Group and Bradford Group

    Mrs Felicia Akanke Obasa died on 30 September, 2018 and the Foundation was set up by her children to immortalise her ideals which centred primarily on education for all, with special emphasis on the girl child education and women education in general.

    Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AWLARC, Dr Sola Olorunyomi of the University of Ibadan, said the centre would promote and encourage activities that can add value to women’s life across a broad spectrum; run innovative programmes and learning opportunities that will improve the lives, economic and social well-being of women; and organise education educational workshops and trainings among other people-oriented and women-empowerment programmes.

    Olorunyomi said: “Our library’s acquisition outlook is both global and local in the most immediate sense of the environment; the AWLARC library is thus, future-inspired which is therefore multi-media and multi-lingua in orientation”.

    He stated further that the documentation unit of the library will provide unlimited research data and research facilities on issues that directly concern women.

    He stated that AWLARC will support the education of the less privileged in society, while enhancing the capacity of indigent pupils and students to achieve their educational dreams.

    Read Also: FG to revive library hours in schools

    “We’ll also advocate against all forms of discrimination against women; encourage and organise medical screening events for ailments that are known to afflict women based on research outcomes and educate women on issues of rape, diseases, ailments, menopause and other peculiar challenges of women,” he said.

    He called for support – financial and material; from government, corporate organisations and individuals as the Centre cannot achieve all the lofty programmes listed above alone.

    The inauguration was ignited with the promise of support by the Rotary Club of Abeokuta led by a Commissioners-designate in Ogun State, Adijat Adeleye.

    Apart from Adeleye and the Rotary Club’s support, the Women Research and Documentation Centre Library (WORDOC), of the Institute African Studies, University of Ibadan also assured AWLARC of its support.

  • FG to revive library hours in schools

    FG to revive library hours in schools

    The Federal Government, through the National Library of Nigeria, says efforts are being made to resuscitate the implementation of library hours in schools.

    The government said this would enhance reading culture among Nigerians.

    The National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Prof Chinwe Anunobi, disclosed this while giving stewardship of her two years in office.

    The national librarian stated that a memo had been sent to the Federal Ministry of Education to consider the implementation of reading culture as a policy.

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    She said: “It is saddening to note that library hours are no longer implemented in many schools. To this end, efforts are being made to resuscitate the implementation of library hours in schools.”

    Speaking further, she said that to strengthen the state-of-the-art national repository, digital equipment had been deployed to protect vulnerable resources in its Lagos strong room.

    She said over 1,000 records, including monographs, journals, documents and other resources had been digitised.

  • Old students to build lab, library, others

    The Old Students Association of Community Grammar School, Igboegurin, Ondo State, has concluded plans to build a modern laboratory, equip the library, and renovate the school hall of their alma mater.

    The plan follows the provision of borehole and toilet facilities for the over 40-year old school.

    The decision was reached during the association’s quarterly meeting at Sappers Barrack, Nigerian Army, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

    The association’s President, Rev. Elisha Emaye, however said the old students should not be left alone to carry the burden of addressing the infrastructural needs of the school and appealed to the Ondo State government and agencies to assist them.

    “The old students association sank borehole for the students; we built a standard toilet for the school as part of giving back to the school and community.  But we are not stopping at that. We want to embark on renovation of the school hall, build a modern laboratory and a well-equipped library for the school.

    “The association cannot do it alone, but we are seeking help from government agencies and relevant stakeholders so as to achieve this goal,” Emaye said.

    Also, Dr Bamidele Fagbounka, a member of the association and lecturer at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago – Iwoye, harped on the commitment and cooperation of members as key factors necessary for the realisation of the planned projects.

    Similarly, Mr Omojuwa Segun said the projects when executed would make life, teaching and learning more meaningful to the students and the community.

    Segun expressed the optimism that the association would get support from many stakeholders.

  • Senator Tinubu opens library

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu has inaugurated a public library for the youth and elderly.

    The library, built by Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), will also be used for research.

    The one-storey building, tagged: Senator Oluremi Tinubu Modern Library, is equipped with modern facility and educational tools of international standard.

    It is located at the central point of the community for accessibility.

    After opening the library, Senator Tinubu hailed the council Chairman, Alhaja Funmilayo Akande-Muhammed for her interest in education.

    She described her scorecard as impressive.

    According to her, Akande-Muhammed has proved that women can deliver good governance if given the opportunity.

    She urged the youth of Apapa-Iganmu to be law-abiding and be of good behaviour.

    She assured them of her support if they can do away with violence acts.

    She promised the residents that more dividends of democracy and basic grassroots amenities will come their way.

    She urged them to support the council chairman’s kind gestures and laudable projects.

    A member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Eliot, praised Alhaja Akande-Muhammed for her the developmental strides in the area of youth development and education.

    Alhaja Akande-Muhammed said she is inspired by Senator Tinubu’s outstanding performance especially in the area of education

    She promised to revamp the education sector in her council.

    The carnival-like event featured presentation of a cake by the council staff to Senator Tinubu.

    Among the dignitaries at the event are Ojora of Ijora Oba Fatai Aromire, Senator Muniru Muse, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos Central Senatorial Leader Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, House of Reps. member Ayodeji Joseph, Muftau Egberongbe, APC chieftain Toun Adeniran, Owolabi Adele Elijah, Wahab Jimoh, Comrade Salau Bashua, Chairman, Iru-Victoria Island LCDA Princess Rasheedat Abiodun Adu, Owolabi Olorunoje among many others.

  • Mbeki: Obasanjo Library to help Africa recover its history

    Mbeki: Obasanjo Library to help Africa recover its history

    Former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki yesterday hailed the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, for its potential to help Africans recover their dignity and history.

    Mbeki said the OOPL is home to important records about Obasanjo, Nigeria and Africa, adding that Nigerians should assist the former Nigerian president to maintain and preserve the facility.

    According to him, he was visiting the library to see things for himself because Obasanjo had previously spoken about it.

    Mbeki, who toured the facility, noted that the OOPL initiative is worth replicating by other African leaders.

    He added: “Hopefully, some other African leaders can come and have a look because I think the example that you have set here is an example that will be worth repeating in other African countries. This is because of the collective history told in the way that you have told it here.

    “I think it will make a very important contribution, even in the recovering of our own dignity, our own identification of ourselves. Who are we? Where do we come from? Where do we think we are going?

    “I really want to say congratulations to the (former) President (Obasanjo) and hopefully, the people of Nigeria will help you in terms of maintaining this because it is really an important part of our heritage.”

    Mbeki said he was impressed that the library has many units touching on youth development, wildlife and parks, ideas and intellectual development among others.

    He said: “I didn’t know we have such a major and complex project. I had the picture in my head of a building, which is the library and that was all. But the complex is a very, very important contribution in terms of communicating what our leadership in the continent (Africa) can do.

    “The library itself, of course, tells a very important story about Obasanjo: from his early life experiences to post-government and all that.

    “It is a very important story. In fact, it is not just a story about Obasanjo. But a good part of the story is about Nigeria and Africa.

    “It is very important that record is available, not only to the people of Nigerian but also to everybody, particularly the people of the continent.

    “I was particularly pleased with the focus that is being paid to youths. Indeed, I think our youths need to be exposed to our past because it teaches them something about the responsibilities that they have to themselves, to their country and to the continent.

    “The idea of the complex is important because it is named after a very important leader of the continent. There is also a number of initiatives, the matter about reprocessing of plastic bottles and so on.

    “It is a very important part of the process of contributing to improving our environment, considering that all of these plastics litter the place. But they are collected and reprocessed to become useful again.

    “I’m also pleased about the fact that you have here an animal farm (the wild life park), which also makes an important statement to ourselves as Africans – about the necessary need for us to protect the African heritage.

    “That heritage is also in the animals. It is very much a part of the African environment. I think the message is part of what we need to attain to become important as well as the other things that are in the complex about youths, about intellectual ideas, the association with the United Nations Education Fund (UNESCO).”

  • Group upgrades school

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Health Awareness and Gender Advocacy Initiative (HAGAI) has equipped a library, upgraded the lone nursery class and refurbished a borehole water system at Oke Ira Primary School.

    HAGAI was founded by a group of youths of prominence and distinction to assist the needy.

    Its Executive Director, Hon Aladeyomi Adebayo, also the first councillor of Oke Ira Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said, while handing over the project to the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), that the organisation was delighted to execute the projects as part of its corporate social responsibility.

    “This community project is an extension of our service to humanity. I commend the US ambassador to Nigeria W. Stuart Symington and the chairman, Board of Trustees of HAGAI Dr. Akinyemi Adu for their support tothese projects,” Adebayo said.

    He said the project was approved by the American embassy based on the past relationship and deliverables.

    “I appreciate parents and teachers for believing in this project especially the SBMC members. I am expressing gratitude to the America Embassy too. It is very important to extend appreciation to the America Embassy which in 2009 supported in the provision of boreholes in this community,”  Adebayo added.

    On what prompted him to spear head the project, Adebayo said he was a grassroots person and member of the Oke-Ira community for more than 30 years.

  • Remodelled Herbert Macaulay Library attracts readers

    Since the refurbished Herbert Macaulay Public Library, Yaba was re-opened last Tuesday it has attracted new members of the public.

    The library, remodelled by GTBank under the Lagos State government’s ‘adopt a library’ project wears a completely different look from what was there before.  A huge signboard in the colours of GTBank welcomes the public to the facility, which now boasts of an e-library, polished bookshelves, comfortable reading tables and chairs; a multipurpose hall for reading sessions, exhibitions and other events, a lounge for readers to eat and relax, as well as a courtyard furnished with artificial carpet grass and cane chairs.

    It was launched by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, in company of the Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, under whose  charge the public libraries were renovated, and the Managing Director, GTBank, Mr Segun Agbaje.

    When The Nation visited the library on Wednesday, many readers were seen quietly making use of the new facilities as well as the internet – though disruption of electric power supply cut short their time on the computer.  However, it did not disturb those reading books from their study because of the cool interior.

    By early afternoon, 52 people had already filled the register to use the facility.  There were also many more who came in to make enquiries about how to make use of the library.  They were told they only needed to present an identification card to gain admission free of charge.

    Librarian in charge of the library, Mr Taiwo Bogunjoko said with the remodeling, he expected the number of users to rise.  He also spoke of plans to organise reading sessions and other events to boost the reading culture.

    “More people have been coming here to make enquiries.  We expect the number to improve further,” he said.

    On the day of the launch, a reading session with author and CEO of Okada Books, Okechukwu Ofili, held in the hall to demonstrate the kind of events that would feature there in future.  Okechukwu read from his books, “How Laziness Saved my Life” and “How Stupidity Saved my Life”, to secondary school pupils that attended the event.  Copies of the books were also given out to the pupils and other guests.

    Bank-Olemoh, said in an interview that the rehabilitation of libraries is part of government’s plans to empower the average Lagosian.

    “We are excited to see that the average Lagosian will have access to this.  The youth of this generation have no reason to fail.  We will have a centre here to teach people to code four times in a week under our Code Lagos project.  Students within this community and youths outside the school system can take advantage of this to learn,” he said.

  • Challenges of improving Nigeria’s dilapidated public library system

    Challenges of improving Nigeria’s dilapidated public library system

    “Roughly 40 percent of adults in Nigeria and 27 percent of youth are illiterate. That’s according to a 2015 UNESCO study,” said Femi Oke, host of The Stream on Al Jazeera, as she introduced last week’s show on Nigeria’s dilapidated public libraries.

    “I’m thinking how many amazing authors has Nigeria given the world?” she added later. “The list goes on and on and on. Why is there a disconnect between the literary canon and how many illiterate Nigerians there are? That doesn’t make sense for me.”

    “Experts fear those numbers will only rise if the country doesn’t address its deteriorating functional public libraries,” said co-host Malika Bilal. “Advocates say libraries are an ‘equal opportunity leveller’ and play an important role in the promotion of reading habits, but say the current condition of the Nigeria’s library system does not encourage reading. They say lack of leadership, underfunding, and poor maintenance has produced libraries full of outdated materials and left the buildings themselves in shambles.”

    This summary was echoed during the show, both by the guests and The Stream’s lively social media community.

    “Funding got cut down drastically and that changed things,” Nkem Osuigwe, director of the Anambra state Library Board, told The Stream. “Because of that, new books were not coming in, chairs got old, legs fell off, shelves were and still are falling down. How will you feel comfortable in that kind of environment to read?… When the libraries don’t look welcoming, what do you expect? No one wants to take his or her child there.”

    But Osuigwe pointed out that the quality of the existing libraries was not the only issue, pointing out that Nigeria had more than 300 public libraries – for an estimated population of 180m. “It doesn’t work at all,” she said.

    She added that it’s important to look at the wider picture of publishing in Nigeria. “It’s not just a matter of, ‘There are no books on the shelves.’ We used to get donations from Book Aid International. But you find they will give you books but those books don’t really talk about you. There is a global body of knowledge but you find out that you still have to domesticate some concepts, some ideas so that children will understand them.”

    Funmi Ilori, the founder of iRead Network Africa, added. “We have a lot of beautiful books here in Nigeria but not many of them are targeted to young children… We need a lot of focus on this new generation of children.”

    In response to the crisis, Ilori has started a mobile library, delivering books to schoolchildren hungry to read. “Even though we tell the children they can only have one book a week, the children are pleading to say, ‘Can we have two? Can we have three books?’”

    She makes the children review what they read. “The children are not as interested in reviewing the book, as much as they want to read the book, but part of the goal is not for them to only be readers but also be writers.”

    The Stream also discussed the importance of teacher training and the challenges of digitisation in a country where access to electricity, let alone computers or the internet, can’t be taken for granted.

    Last month, the Speaker of the House ordered the Committee on Basic Education and Services to work with the Federal Ministry of Education on finding solutions and report back to the House within eight weeks. In addition, Nigeria’s National Library recently announced it is working with Norway to digitise its book collection.