Education
LRCN Tasks Librarians On ICT Skills
Librarians in Nigeria have
been tasked to acquire relevant skills to become key players in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector and also apply such skills to improve the lot of information seekers.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), Dr. Victoria Okojie gave the charge during the opening ceremony of the national workshop on the ”Application of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in Library Operations” for librarians and information managers in the country, Wedmesday.
The event which was held at the University of Nigeria Nsukka,(UNN), in Enugu State was organised by LRCN in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Okojie disclosed that it was the desire of LRCN to train over 4,000 certified librarians in Nigeria, if the resources were provided.
The council has also approved the certification of more than 800 librarians at the 5th Induction scheduled to hold in September this year in Abuja, pointing out that “this will bring the number of registered librarians to over 4,000.”
The registrar explained that the aim of the workshop was to make librarians and information managers aware of the possibilities FOSS offered for the modernising Nigerian libraries and to facilitate information sharing.
She further pointed out that the workshop would also strengthen the technical capacity of professional librarians and information mangers in deploying FOSS tools such as D-Space, Greenstone, Koha and CDS/ISIS, adding that ”at the end of the workshop, we would have trained about 200 librarians in the use of Open Source software. This is about five percent of certified librarians, so there is still a lot of work to be done.”
According to her, LRCN was committed to ensuring that information professionals in the country are equal to their counterparts in developed countries.
In a welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba said the theme of the workshop, “Application of Free and Open Source Software in Library Operations” was well thought out particularly now that most libraries in Africa are making frantic efforts in the development of their digital libraries.
The Vice Chancellor said the workshop was also critical in building the required capacity among Nigerian librarians in acquisition of the required capacity of the required skills and competencies which propel the present information society.
His words: “The use of appropriate software in library operations is central to the globalisation and localisation of African research outputs. In performing these essential tasks, librarians need the right training which I am very sure this workshop will offer”.
He, expressed delight that the workshop was held on the campus while the university’s Digital Library projects are in progress, adding, ”we regard the library as the nerve centre of all the academic activities in the university”.
It would be recalled that this is the third edition of such workshops being put together by LRCN for its members in the country.
L-R: Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof Oladapo Obafunwa, Pro- Chancellor, Lagos State University, Mr Olabode Agusto, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Chancellor, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas and Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, at the 19th Convocation of the University in Lagos, last Thursday.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.