NLA urges adoption of technologies for library transformation
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) has called for urgent modernisation of the country’s library systems through strategic investments in emerging technologies and renewed policy frameworks to align with the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR). This was part of the resolutions reached at the Association’s 63rd Annual National Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Benin […]
Nigerian Library Association
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) has called for urgent modernisation of the country’s library systems through strategic investments in emerging technologies and renewed policy frameworks to align with the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR).
This was part of the resolutions reached at the Association’s 63rd Annual National Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Benin City, Edo State, from July 7 to 11, 2025.
With the theme, “The Fifth Industrial Revolution and the Future of Library and Information Service Delivery in a Changing World,” the conference drew librarians, researchers, educators, policymakers, and stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria.
A total of 163 scholarly papers were presented virtually and in person, underscoring the evolving role of libraries in digital transformation and knowledge access.
In its communiqué, signed by Dr. Dominic A. Omokaro, President and Chairman of Council of NLA, the association emphasised that the 5IR era—marked by a fusion of advanced technologies and human-centered values—requires libraries to strike a balance between innovation and empathy.
The association resolved that libraries must shift from static repositories to hybrid hubs, delivering both physical and virtual services tailored to diverse user needs.
It further advocated the reskilling of library professionals in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, and data ethics to remain relevant.
Library educators were urged to fully leverage curriculum flexibility provided by Nigeria’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) to incorporate future-facing disciplines.
The NLA also called for inclusive access, championing the use of tools like Virtual Reality (VR), Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and assistive technologies to reach underserved populations.
Concerned about the state of national development, the communiqué highlighted the impact of deteriorating infrastructure, insecurity, and underfunding of education on library services.
It urged the federal and state governments to invest in libraries as enablers of peacebuilding, digital inclusion, youth development, and socioeconomic recovery.
The conference recommended that at least 50 percent of TETFund allocations to libraries be dedicated to 5IR-related tools and infrastructure, with greater emphasis on ethical data governance and privacy protection.
To reposition libraries as central to Nigeria’s development agenda, the association called on institutions including the Federal Ministry of Education, NUC, NBTE, NCCE, and development partners to adopt and implement its proposals.