Head of library of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Mrs Hajara Pisagih, has advised Nigerian government to make libraries major partners in Nigeria’s sustainable development.
The librarian gave the advice Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the 2019 Library Week organised by Bauchi state chapter of the Nigerian Library Association held at the state library hall.
According to her, libraries as institutions that provide educative and informative documents could help government to make research for the socio-economic development of the nation.
“Libraries are the institutions in any given society or nation that assist people in exercising their right to information, safeguard and provide access to cultural heritage, enhancement of community, civil society organisations and government in capacity building skills and raise general awareness by strongly supporting the broader development targets of access to information, improved service delivery and thereby setting a platform towards achieving sustainable development.
“The government should not pay lip services in the development of libraries as the benefits to the economic development of Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.
“The government should fund libraries adequately so that facilities required to equip the electronic libraries of the 21st century will be provided towards education and national development in Nigeria,” she said.
Also speaking, a professor of library and information science at ATBU, Mansur Malumfashi said education is the only vehicle for sustainable development adding that it cannot be functional without libraries.
In his speech, the state librarian and chairman of the state library board, Babayo B. Misau said the occasion was aimed at promoting the use of libraries in the state.
He advocated the establishment of libraries in every school and homes as a way of promoting reading culture among children.
