By Amaechi Agbo
Academic and Research Libraries Section, ARLS, has called for proper funding, quality infrastructure in libraries to improve effective education in Nigeria’s higher institutions.
ARLS national chairman, Dr Ifeanyi Ezema made the call in Port Harcourt, Rivers State during the association’s 8th National Conference and General Meeting held at the Rivers State University from 15 to 18 November, 2022
Delivering his address at the event attended by over 80 participants drawn from various institutions of higher learning across the country, Dr Ezema while highlighting the critical roles libraries play in educational system in the country, however lamented that inappropriate or lack of funding as well as non-existent of library infrastructure has impeded the lofty impacts.
“Higher educational institutions in Nigeria are established to develop highly skilled manpower for sustainable national development. Academic and research libraries have very critical roles to play in supporting teaching, research and community services which are the core mandates of higher institutions.
“Unfortunately, academic and research libraries are faced with serious challenges and under funding is central. These challenges are becoming increasingly complex with the dwindling budgetary allocation to education and neglect of academic and research libraries.
“Many cases of this neglect are internal as heads of institutions often pay lip-services to library development in terms of collection development, training and retraining of librarians and development of ICT infrastructure. Usually, a little attention is given to these libraries only during accreditation of programmes.
“Being at the centre of academic activities in our higher educational institutions, academic libraries must congregate to chart better ways of mitigating these challenges. Proper funding of academic libraries is a catalyst for quality higher education. Therefore, if Nigeria is really serious to develop competitive manpower for the present knowledge economy, there is a need to develop critical library infrastructure for acquisition of the required skills and competencies by librarians,” he said.
