Lawyer Makes Case For Research Centres, e-Libraries At Councils’ Headquarters

Chairmen of all the 23 local government councils in Rivers State have been advised to build research and e-learning centres at their various council headquarters so as to meet the 21st century challenges.
A Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Barr Clara Opara, who gave this advice in an exclusive chat with The Tide in Port Harcourt at the weekend, said that rather than embarking on projects that have no direct bearing on the people, well-equipped research centres and e-libraries at various councils’ headquarters would be of great benefit to the people.
To achieve this, she suggested a budget provision for ICT development at every fiscal year by local councils, adding that the councils could also build the e-learning centres through a Private Public Partnership initiative.
The lawyer, who described herself as a researcher, noted that she would not have attained the level she is without proper foundation in research and electronic library system.
She urged the council chairmen to invest in the future and economic wellbeing of their people than to embark on projects that add no value to people’s lives. .
Barr Opara, who is also a member of the Association of Women Lawyers of Africa (AWLA), recalled how virtual learning process introduced during the Coronavirus lockdown last year posed a big threat to many Nigerians due to lack of knowledge on e-learning .
She noted that it would have been an easy ride if the students had access to the e-learning system before the lockdown was imposed.
According to her, “In this 21st century, any leader who plans any project without provision for ICT, research centre and up-to-date e-library has failed and belongs to the Stone Age and not this Jet or Computer Age”.

By: King Onunwor