NLA Harps on Quality Information to Drive a Knowledge-Based Economy

Gilbert Ekugbe
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) has announced plans to reach out to vulnerable groups and grassroots across the country with quality information in its bid to promote a knowledge-based economy.

The College Librarian, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Imam Abayomi, who was the guest speaker at the NLA 2021 Library week and Annual General Meeting (AGM) themed, “Library and information services for the grassroots and the vulnerable,” in Lagos, said it is the responsibility of library practitioners to take quality information in right quantity to the vulnerable groups and grassroots in Nigeria, saying that these information could be transferred to knowledge if properly channeled.

In his words, “The vulnerable, because of their location it is our responsibility as Librarians that is the Library practitioners to take these resources to them so that they have access to them, while also interpret it to them so that they will make the best use of the information that can be transferred to knowledge. If you are not informed, you are deformed and what we librarians as instrument is our information and if we are not getting the right information to the people, at the right time and in the right quantity, then definitely we are breeding an uninformed society.”

Abayomi noted that it is quite unfortunate that information are been used in urban areas rather than focusing more on the rural part of communities who he said needs the information the most.

He appealed to the federal government to encourage librarians in their quest to add and take advantage of the right information to the rural community.

He called on the federal government to encourage librarians with training so as to equip librarians to be abreast with the global trend while also reaching the vulnerable with the right information.

The Chairman of Nigeria Library Association, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Onaade Ojo spoke about the challenges faced in the association.

He pointed out how members of the association do not pay their dues, stressing that funding is an integral part of any association.

Ojo said it is quite unfortunate that most librarians deployed to other states usually have language barriers, suggesting that language speakers who fit in a particular location should be deployed.

He also commended his team who distributed books to some selected primary schools in Badagry Local Government Area of the State.
The general meeting came to an end with a general election for the new executive to take over from the outgoing set.