The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Library

  • Lagos digital library berths

    Lagos digital library berths

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said the digital library provided by the government will usher speedy development in the education and social sectors.

    Ambode who gave the remark during the launching of the Lagos State Digital Library at the Landmark Event Centre VI Lagos, was represented by the Secretary to the Government (SSG) Mr. Tunji Bello and Special Adviser on Education Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh.

    The governor said that the facility would provide 2000 study aids on core subjects from primary to senior secondary school curriculum. He noted that 1600 tutorials, instructional videos, selected e-books for primary to SS3, brief history of Lagos, online forum, podcast and exam-mate test resource would be available in the library.

    He said: “As part of our efforts to build a globally competitive economy and achieve our goal of making Lagos State the next technology hub in Africa, the Code Lagos and Digital Library was initiated.

    “Today, we are unveiling the state digital library, first of its kind in the state and one of the largest learning platform in Africa. Through this platform, we are providing access to learning materials for everyone particularly students and researchers.”

    Ambode said stakeholders would find useful research papers from Lagos State tertiary institutions covering a wide variety of topics on the platform, stressing that vocational training would equally be accessed on the medium.

    “It is aimed at providing unlimited access to knowledge for all through the collective and curation of digital content by online portal. This portal will be accessible via internet connection on a range of devices.

    “Based on available statistics, Africa is expected to reach 500 million internet users by 2020, majority of whom will access internet through a mobile device.

    “This administration is however thinking and working ahead by launching this digital library knowing that technology will play a major role in achieving our dream of becoming Africa’s model megacity and global economic and financial hub.

    “I therefore, use this opportunity to encourage our students, teachers, researchers and everyone that is interested in knowledge acquisition to make use of this platform which can be accessed from any part of the world.”

  • Osun Varsity wins Obasanjo Library debate

    Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has won the Inter-University Debate organised to mark the opening of (IUD) the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Babcock University was the first runner up.

    The King’s University (KU) in Odeomu, Osun State, which finished as second runner up, erupted in celebration after its students returned to the campus with their trophy.

    The IUD was held at the main auditorium of OOPL’s International Conference Centre. Ten tertiary institutions participated in the debate, with the theme: Will Presidential libraries reduce leadership deficit in Africa?

    Some of the participants argued in favour of the claim, while others opposed it.  The KU’s Melody Ayokunu, a 200-Level International Relations student, argued that presidential libraries would address the leadership challenge in Africa.

    At the end, the judges panel, which included Prof Bolanle Awe and Dr Olusoji Vawn, announced the winners, stating that UNIOSUN garnered 38 points to win the contest.

    BABCOCK scored 35 points to win the second position, while KU had 32 points to become third.

    Lauding the school team for the feat, the KU Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Diran Famurewa, praised the students for making the varsity proud.

    The VC urged them to aim higher, adding that they should not  relent in their quest for excellence and bring more glories to the university.

    Famurewa also hailed lecturers of the Department of English and Literary Studies, who prepared the students for the debate.

  • Sahara Group renovates Tanzanian library

    Energy firm, Sahara Group, has renovated the library at Pugu Secondary school in Tanzania; opening a new world of learning and development for over 900 students and 76 teachers of the prestigious institution.

    The school, which has a celebrated heritage of producing presidents and notable Tanzanians, hitherto experienced a lull in its reading culture due to the dilapidated library.

    The project was carried out by Sahara Group’s subsidiary, Sahara Tanzania in conjunction with Sahara Foundation, the Group’s Corporate Responsibility vehicle and READ International, a non-government organisation.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the library in Dar es Salam, Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, said the organisation was delighted to be given the opportunity to empower youths in Tanzania.

    “In addition to renovating the library, Sahara also donated new books which we believe will inspire the students to pursue their dreams and aspirations with renewed vigour. At Sahara, we are passionate about providing platforms that transform lives,” he said.

    Whist formally inaugurating the library, Tanzanian Acting Commissioner for Education, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Nicolas James Buretta, said he was confident it would “improve access and equity in education for the current and future students of Pugu Secondary School.”

    Pugu’s Headmaster, Juvenus Mutabuzi, said the library was a “new dawn experience” for the school, adding that it had paved the way for Pugu to reinforce its position as a leading institution of learning in Tanzania.

    “The excitement of the students says it all. We are proud of Sahara. The teaching staff and our students will definitely take advantage of the new library to enhance the school’s academic excellence,” he said.

    Also speaking at the event, President of the Students’ government, Elias Rwegerera said the new library would rekindle the students’ passion for reading and ultimately improve their academic performance.

    “On behalf the students, I would like to thank Sahara Foundation and READ International for renovating our library. We would like you and other oganisations to continue donating more books to enable us read more in order to become the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

    Sahara Foundation’s Manager, Babatomiwa Adesida, said Sahara was also exploring the introduction of its extrapreneurship framework in Tanzania to provide a platform that finds, creates and connects young entrepreneurs in emerging markets.

     

  • NB Plc library donation lifts school

    The Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc through its Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has donated a library to Randle Avenue Primary School, Surulere Lagos; but Head Teacher, Mrs Anthonia Ojeogwu, said many other public primary schools in the area would benefit from the facility.

    The endowment was facilitated by the Rotary Club of Lagos, whose members were fully on ground as it was handed over to the Education Secretary, Surulere Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Mrs Y.A. Fatoke.

    Mrs Ojeogwu said in an interview that the school would draft a timetable to ensure its pupils and those of neigbouring schools make judicious use of the library.

    “We have a roaster.  The children will have time to go in and use the library.  We are going to help neigbouring schools too.  Already we have additional books donated by an ex pupil of this school as far back as 2013, which we will put in the library,” she said.

    The library boasts of book shelves, chairs and desks, books, two air conditioners, as well as two adjoining toilets.

    In his speech, Managing Director, NB Plc, who was represented by the Corporate Adviser, Mr Kufre Ekanem, said the firms education trust fund, set up with a seed capital of N100million in 1994, has since impacted the lives of 20,000 students with the construction of over 280 classrooms, 45 toilets, and 40 libraries across the country.

    He praised members of the Rotary Club of Lagos for their determination to see that the project came to being.

    “Our commitment to winning in Nigeria would have passed this premises by but for the Rotary Club.  I wants to thank the club for their doggedness despite the budget being fixed.  I hope the children and teachers will use this facility well,” he said.

    Rotary Club President, Mrs Modupe Sasore, thanked NB Plc for implementing the project- even though it cost more than the initial budget.

    “My predecessor approached NB Plc to construct a block of six classrooms for N7 million.  But because of the cost, they chose the library project.  It is obvious that the original budget was exceeded.  It shows the commitment of NB Plc to education,” she said.

    Mrs Fatoke and the Sole Administrator for Surulere Local Government, Mr Sheriff Balogun, praised NB Plc for investing in Surulere.

    “Since I have been Sole Administrator, I have attended five or six events of this nature through the NB Plc.  NB Plc is number one among all multinationals doing Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria,” said Balogun.

     

  • Expert decries poor library services, reading culture

    Expert decries poor library services, reading culture

    The Principal Librarian of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prince Sunday Olurotimi Obadare, has described the current poor reading culture among Nigerians as worrisome. He said the ugly situation needed to be addressed urgently.

    In a chat with Southwest Report, Obadare, who is also the National Vice-President of Nigeria Library Association (NLA), noted that he was not comfortable with library services in the country, saying that the situation is not pleasant.

    According to him, despite the country’s huge population, government has not recognised the role library services could play in the country’s development. He regretted that the National Library Headquarters located in Abuja is currently operating in a rented apartment.

    “This indicates that the state of library services in Nigeria is so poor. There is need for government to declare national emergency in the area of library services so that the Federal Government would be alive to its responsibilities. The same thing applies to libraries in the state and local government areas across the country.”

    The librarian pointed out that private individuals needed to be encouraged to partner with government in salvaging the situation so that there could be enough libraries in the country. This will be a stepping stone for our national development.

    “The country is in a critical situation in the area of provision of library services. Members of the association are ready to assist the government in this area but the government has to make certain facilities and infrastructure available for the establishment of more libraries. “Though, it is capital intensive, government needed to take the bull by the horn while members of the association and public can assist in the provision of the all-important services to the people,” he said.

    He regretted that Nigerians are no longer reading due to laziness, noting that reading has to do with people who are very serious and determined to add value to their lives through reading.

    “Nigerians are no longer reading. They want to delve much into something that attracts little concentration and attention. They like to watch television; they like to do all those frivolities rather than reading. But when they read, they get the information they need to better their lives. But people are not reading,” he added.

    While blaming government at all levels for not providing adequate library services, Obadare  argued: “People don’t want to trek far from their houses before they get to the library and the books needed have to be available as well as other materials. Also, there must be in place such an environment that is conducive to reading. When all these are in place in  the neighbourhood, people would be encouraged to read.

    “In South Africa, you have libraries in all the neighbourhoods. Every community has its libraries and you only need to walk across to access the library. But in Nigeria, you have to travel far before you can get one. This is not encouraging at all.

    “That was why we are calling for national emergency. Once one has a library within one’s community, one will be encouraged to read and do research. You can read for pleasure, you can read to obtain knowledge and some other things,” he said.

    While explaining the importance of library to national development, Obadare argued that government has to budget huge funds for library service if the nation would attain the much-needed development.

    “In those days, all the principals and other retired education officers used to write books but it is no longer so. People are not reading, people are not writing and books are not published. When you work for about 35 years, all the experiences one had gathered, one have to write  and document one’s experiences and ideas in book form so that others can read about them. But people are not doing that again,” he noted.

    He lamented that even if the services are available; people are not ready to read in order to be better informed.

    “The truth is that people are no longer reading and most of their times are wasted on irrelevant things that may not add value to their lives,” he said.

    He further explained that the association is not folding its arms on this crisis. It is rather looking for a way to solve the problem.

    “Our association is looking into that and TETfund has come to the rescue. But its contributions are not enough. Tertiary institutions are supposed to earmark 10 per cent of their total budget for library development; but they are not doing that. It is a critical problem that must be addressed.

    “In terms of maintenance, we are encouraging communities to have library of their own to complement the efforts of the government. We are also working on a project that will encourage rich individuals to establish and maintain libraries in memory of their parents and members of Nigeria Library Association (NLA) can assist them to operate the library in their communities, so that we can have it in all the nook and cranny of the country.

    “We are encouraging private individual to come to our aid. There is also the need to call on all the traditional rulers to have libraries; private individuals are supposed to have libraries in their homes in order to assist and complement the efforts of government. But majorly, government has to put in place policies that will favour establishment of libraries in all the nook and cranny of the country,” he said.

    To complement the efforts of government in the provision of library services, he revealed that there is a pet project he had embarked upon. Tagged “Private Library Project (PLP)”, it allows wealthy individuals to establish private libraries in different parts of the country in memory of their loved ones or in their own names. The donors will fund the projects as well as be responsibile for their sustainability while the operations of the libraries will be greatly assisted by the Nigerian Library Association in the various states of the country where the private libraries are located. The library will be opened to the public, even as the donor controls the library.

    Obadare, who emphasised the importance of library in national development, said “library is about research and research is very important for the nation to grow and develop.”

  • Shell builds public library in Rivers

    Shell builds public library in Rivers

    In its effort to promote literacy in the Niger Delta region, the Anglo-Dutch multi-national company, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria Limited, has built and donated a standard modern public library for members of Port Harcourt Literary Society (PHLS). Built and equipped at the cost of N2. 574 billion, Shell invested the sum of $5 million while the sum of $1.5 million was raised from other sources. The library is adjudged by professionals as the only standard library facility Nigeria has ever had, having facility for every strata of the society, ranging from babies to the very old.

    Located at the Nigeria Air Force in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the facility is being managed by members of PHLS. The facility is meant to carter for the learning and research needs of everyone in any sphere of life.

    The company has always shown commitment in the education of the people to enable them to improve their economic well-being. In achieving this, Shell designed and operates different educational scholarship and training programmes annually for different categories of people in the region.

    On the firm’s annual Cradle-to–Career (C2C) educational programme for gifted but indigent kids in public primary schools in rural communities in the three main operational states of the company, namely Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta, the company gives scholarship to 60 graduating primary school pupils (20 from each state), to the best private secondary school in Port Harcourt, with Cambridge/A’Level classes on full boarding bases.

    The first batch of the students has graduated. As at the last award months back, the company has given out scholarships to over 400 students.

    The company also operates an expanded robust university scholarship, in which opportunities are given to undergraduate and post-graduate students of Nigerian origin to be sponsored under its social responsibility programme. This year, over 500 students received the award nation-wide.

    The scheme is Shell/NNPC/Agip partnership; the latter has existed for over 50 years in the country.

    Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, SPDC Nigeria, Okunbor Osagie said the project is one of the three library projects the company has planned for each of its main states of operation, expressing the delight on its impacts on the education and learning of residents of the oil-rich region.

    Quoting Alan Moore he said: “Knowledge, like air, is vital to life. Like air, no one should be denied it.” Okunbor noted that library being a fountain of knowledge would be freely available to all. “This completed library project by SPDC will provide unfettered access to knowledge for all people who seek it,” he said.

    The MD explained why the company decided to build the multi-purpose public library.

    “When you look at Shell companies in Nigeria, this project is one of our boldest social investments and it’s one of the three N2 billion projects we are sponsoring to mark Nigeria’s centenary anniversary in the Niger Delta region.

    “Our choice of these centenary projects and this one in particular is a demonstration of our continued belief in the future of this country and our commitment to its socio-economic development especially in the Niger Delta.

    “SPDC has exclusively funded this library project because of its strong conviction that it will deliver significant benefits and positively impact the lives of people.

    “The journey to the delivery of the library was implemented using a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port Harcourt Library Society and our objective was to deliver a modern public library that would rank as one of the biggest and most IT-driven in the Niger Delta. Without sounding immodest, our objective has been achieved.

    “To ensure that this project is sustainable, the library will be managed by the PHLS and will be a component of the Book Centre that will serve as the hub of activities that will promote access to information and economic growth through education in general and literary arts in particular,” he said.

    Speaker after speaker harped on the significance of the project to Rivers State as World Book Capital and the region in general.

    After inspecting the library facility, the Chief Librarian of National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina, said it met international standard. According to him, the structure has sections for every stage.

    “Having toured round the facility, I discovered that the facility has something for every strata of society, from kindergarten to the very old; that is what a public library ought to be. I am satisfied with what I have seen,” he said.

    Prof.  Aina adjudged the facility as the first and currently the only public library the country has ever had.

    He urged young mothers to take advantage of the facility in raising their babies with ease by bringing them there when they are busy, have places/shopping to do, stressing that the facility’s environment and its baby section is conducive to safe and quiet learning.

    “More importantly, one is happy that our mothers can now bring their children here on weekends or week days, go out for their shopping and other businesses and come back and pick them when they are done.”

    He pledged the support of National Library, and enjoined other states of the federation to replicate the facility in their own states to promote reading culture and effective child-raising.

    On the criteria for accessing the facility by the public and its capability in addressing the yearnings of Niger Delta students and researchers alike, the Chairman of PHLS, Dr. Chidi Amuta assured that the facility is open to everyone with the membership registration card (e-card), which also serves as the access card to the main entrance gate.

    He assured that the facility would be able to solve all research and writing requirements of users.

    “The vision for setting up the facility is to provide the word-class facility, which, however, is accessible and available to the public. This is because the users will not have second thought on the safety and friendliness of the facility and its environment.

    “The library was opened for public use on September 1 and is already receiving students and pupils from various schools on excursion visit and registration. The place is available for individual or group registration. The registration fee is just a token for the provision of e-card to open the entrance gate. Already families are beginning to register their children and wards.” Amuta said.

    He further said: “PHLS is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, but the monies we raise from donors, contributions and goodwill from the public is meant to ensure that the library functions optimally.”

    On why much funds is spent in building library in the current economic situation of the country, Okunbo said: “Education is very key in the social investment programmes of SPDC. It was the quest on how best to achieve this that informed our partnership with

  • Group donates N.5m books to Ondo Library

    The Oyemekun Association of Southern California (OASC) United States has donated books worth N500,000 to the Ondo State Library board.

    Presenting the materials at the Akure Library board complex, its President, Pastor Akin Akinwumi, said the initiative was to provide learning opportunities for secondary school pupils in the neighbourhood.

    He promised that the group would donate more books to aid tertiary students in their research.

    “These pupils are the future of this state and country at large, we cannot neglect them. If we neglect them, we have no future because it has been said that the readers of today are the leaders of tomorrow.We want to equip our leaders of tomorrow for the challenges ahead; and getting the right textbooks, doing the right study, studying on time and doing their homework is the best way to go,” he said.

    Chairman of the Library Board, Tunde Adegbonmire, praised the donors for being the first to ever give to the board.

    He promised to ensure that the pupils make judicious use of the books,  urging other associations, corporate organisations and individuals to emulate the gesture to improve the poor state of the library.

     

  • Shell donates N1b library to Literary Society

    Shell donates N1b library to Literary Society

    An e-library donated by Shell PetroleumDevelopment Corporation(SPDC) to the Port Harcourt Literary Society has been opened.

    The N1.03 billion library is one of the N2 billion social investment projects Shell sponsored in the Niger Delta to mark Nigeria’s centenary anniversary.

    The others are a hospital and sports centre in Bayelsa and Delta states. Shell spent N790 million on the project that was implemented via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port Harcourt Library Society, which contributed N240 million.

    ‘’SPDC invested exclusively on this library project because of its strong conviction that it will deliver significant benefits and positively impact the lives of the people,’’   Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum and Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chair Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, said.

    “We are pleased to deliver an ultra-modern public library that would rank as one of the biggest and most IT-driven in the country. The feedback we’re receiving shows that the literary scene in the Garden City has already changed,” he added.

    The National Librarian Prof Lenrie Aina said the facility, named Port Harcourt Literary Society Library, was the “first complete public library in Nigeria.”

    Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, represented by her Senior Special Assistant, Mrs. Inegogo Fubara, thanked SPDC for supporting the state government’s desire to provide sustainable and affordable education to the people.

    Port Harcourt Literary Society Board of Trustees Chairman Dr Chidi Amuta said the library was designed to be the heart of the Port Harcourt Book Centre that was originally conceived to commemorate the recognition of Port Harcourt by UNESCO

  • NGO renovates school library

    A non profit-making body, Christianah Foundation has urged pupils to imbibe reading culture.

    Its co-founder Abayomi Akinjide, spoke during the inauguration of the renovated  school library of Elekuro High School, Oke-Ogbere, Ibadan.

    The foundation donated prizes to indigent pupils in memory of Chief Elizabth Akinjide.

    He said the foundation was reviving reading attitude among youths.

    “What the Christianah Foundation is doing is to encourage book reading and writing and you cannot be writing without having people to read them. So, a lot of efforts are being made in that direction. Why we are doing this as a foundation is to sustain the legacy of our late grandmother, Mrs Elizabeth Akinjide, who, in her lifetime, showed a passion for education.

    “Parents need to encourage our students to read from childhood. The best gift parents can beget to their children is qualitative education. On our part, we shall ensure that we sustain this foundation to build future leaders and improve the standard of education in the state,” Akinjide added.

    Principal, Elekuro High School, Oke-Ogbere, Ibadan, Mr Kunle Lawal, who thanked the foundation for the gesture, identified poor reading culture as one of the major problems facing secondary school education.

    “This has made most youths academically poor, socially deficient, and morally unbalanced. In fact, most of them are more or less semi illiterates,” he lamented.

    Lawal was hopeful that the renovation of the library would help boost reading among beneficiaries.

     

  • Osun library needs rehabilitation

    SIR: Despite the spate of controversies that has so far journeyed with the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, his laudable  feats in the education sector, among others, cannot be denigrated.

    For instance no sooner had he been sworn in in November 2010 than he announced an enormous slash in the school fees regime hitherto operational in all the state-owned tertiary institutions to make tertiary education more accessible to people.

    Besides, he has built many magnificent and ultra-modern primary and secondary school buildings across the state to replace the old fashioned and dilapidated structures his administration inherited from his predecessors as part of efforts to change the trend of low patronage hitherto encountered in public schools. In a similar vein, the Governor introduced free meal in all primary schools in the state, an innovation already coveted by one federal government.

    It is however appallingly contradictory that the state library where students are expected to go for personal development is in a deplorable state. The environment is busy and unkempt. The toilet, built outside the library hall is not maintained and therefore no longer serving the purpose of its erection. The library hall is a total disappointment. The ventilation is extremely poor and alarming. The windows can best be described as relics of a by-gone era. Almost all the ancient ceiling fans in the library are moribund. The effect of the only two or three that are still functioning cannot be felt more than a person sitting beside a pregnant woman inside a moving bus can hear the kick of the foetus inside her womb. This makes intense heat to always have a field day inside the library without the slightest fear of been checkmated, hence the users become the helpless casualties.

    Governor Aregbesola, kindly assist to rehabilitate the library.

     

    • Jide Bakare,

    LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.