12th National Association of Library and Information Science Educators (Nalise) Conference/Annual General Meeting

Citation

Adomi, E.E. (2003), "12th National Association of Library and Information Science Educators (Nalise) Conference/Annual General Meeting", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 20 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/lhtn.2003.23920gac.001

12th National Association of Library and Information Science Educators (Nalise) Conference/Annual General Meeting

12th National Association Of Library And Information Science Educators (Nalise) Conference/Annual General Meeting

Esharenana E. Adomi

The National Association of Library and Information Science Educators (NALISE), the umbrella body of the academics of library and information schools in Nigeria held its 12th Conference and Annual General Meeting at the Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria, 19-21 November 2002. The event was hosted by the Department of Library and Information Science School of the University.

The conference theme "Modernisation of library and information science programmes in Nigeria", attracted delegates from eight out of the 19 library and information science schools of the country. The schools represented included those of the Delta State University, Abraka; University of Ibadan; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Abia State University, Uturu; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Babcock University, Ogun State; and Imo State University, Owerri. There were also participants from the National Library of Nigeria, Abuja and the Delta State University Library.

The opening ceremony attracted attendance from a cross-section of the Delta State University plus the delegates. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor U.A. Igun, represented by Professor G.C. Igborgbor of the Department of Guidance and Counselling of the host university, after an opening speech, declared the annual event open.

The keynote address/lead paper was presented by E.N.O. Adimorah, Director, Research and Development, National Library of Nigeria, Abuja entitled: "Global trends in the library and information science curriculum". In it, he gave a periscope on library and information services training in the world and tried to establish the need for modernization of the curriculum of the library and information science training schools. He noted that the way the profession of librarianship and information science will develop in Nigeria would depend on the type of information professionals our library and information schools produce; that these schools are, at present, underfunded and understaffed to produce the type of students demanded by society; that NALISE should urgently map out action plans to tackle this anomaly and that detailed project proposals should be written and presented to appropriate arms of government and donor agencies.

The activities of the first day were brought to a close with a gala night which featured cultural dances by two traditional dancing troupes from Obiaruku and Abraka communities and light refreshments.

In a paper, entitled "Education for library and information work in the knowledge age", Professor P. Osazee Fayose of the Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies, University of Ibadan, stated that the quest for a viable library and information education has continued to elude educators not only in Nigeria but also in the West African sub-region as a result of the antecedents of library education in the region. She further highlighted that the first teachers were expatriates – Americans, British, New Zealanders, etc.; that the schools were founded with foreign money and the syllabuses were foreign oriented; that the first library school graduates from the region were conferred with British certificates. She advised that after 40 years of library education in Nigeria, library schools should begin to evolve a library education programme that is inward looking; that this programme should take into consideration the various groups of library users in the nation, the new techniques in library and information work and most importantly the aspects of information technologies that suit the Nigeria workforce best; that all library schools must be well funded and equipped with up-to-date departmental library – the main laboratory of the departments – a functional information technology laboratory, an audiovisual laboratory for the production of local library materials, especially audiovisual resources for the non-reading members of the society; that research should focus on the integration of library and information work into every facet of the Nigerian social, political and educational life.

A.N. Uhegbu of the Department of Library and Information Science, Abia State University, delivered a paper, entitled "Funding options for modern library and information science education training in Nigeria". In it, he articulated alternative ways of sourcing funds for a modern library and information science training and education in Nigeria. He enumerated some of the sources to include: friends of the department, community aid, library school – graduate forum, resource sharing, library school – corporate organization framework among others. The paper highlighted the socio-economic and political factors affecting funding of library and information science education and training in Nigeria as well as trends in its funding. The writer opined that unless additional sources of funding are found outside the statutory allocation from the university, library and information science education and training would continue to suffer from underfunding.

Other papers presented included the following:

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  "Training for managing information in developing countries of Africa", by Amusi Odi, Department of Library and Information Science, Abia State University, Uturu.

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  "Educating the new information professional: new approaches at the Ahmadu Bello University", by John Otim, Department of Library and Information Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

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  "Restructuring and modernization of library and information science programmes in Nigeria: the case of Abia State University, Uturu", by Udo Nwokocha, Department of Library and Information Science, Abia State University, Uturu.

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  "Expectations of employers in the education and training of librarians and information scientists in the twenty-first century Nigeria", by E.O. Ejiko, Delta State University Library, Abraka.

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  "Measurement and evaluation of library schools in Nigeria: the case of the accreditation of LIS, ABSU", by Chidi P.C. Onwubiko, Department of Library and Information Science, Abia State University, Uturu.

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  "Essentials of archives and records management curriculum in the twenty-first century", by Chidi P.C. Onwubiko, Department of Library and Information Science, Abia State University, Uturu.

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  "Modernising the professional development of librarians for industry", by Roseline Opeke, PhD, Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

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  "The challenge of the modern syllabus for the library and information science educator in Nigeria", by Chidi Nwosu, Department of Library Science, Imo State University, Owerri.

A proceedings of the papers is expected to be published by NALISE in coming months. The activities of the second day ended with a courtesy call on the traditional King of Abraka Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Adakaji I, the Ovie of Abraka, at his palace in Abraka. The delegates were accorded a warm reception by the King and his Council of Chiefs. The visit was led by the outgoing NALISE President, Udo Nwokocha.

During the Annual General Meeting, new officers for the 2002/2003 academic year were elected. They are all from the Department of Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka and include:

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  Professor G.T. Onadiran, Head of Department – President.

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  S.O. Uwaifo – Secretary.

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  D.O. Toyo – Financial Secretary/Treasurer.

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  S.O. Clark – Editor.

It is customary for the hosting institution to produce all members of the executive, for easy coordination of affairs of the Association.

The 2003 NALISE Conference/AGM is slated to be hosted by the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria on a date yet to be determined.

Esharenana E. Adomi( esharenaadomi@yahoo.com) is Serials Librarian, Delta State University Library, Abraka, Nigeria.