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 Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Alabo David Briggs and his Post Primary Schools Board, counterpart, Dr. Sam Emejuru recently embarked on a joint visit to Model Girls Secondary School, Mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Arera of Rivers State.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after interacting with the students, Alabo Briggs said both of them were in the school to know how the students are faring, how happy they are, and to also know their areas of need and then take pragmatic decisions that would enhance the wellbeing of the students.
Describing the school as the only boarding school in Rivers State made up of Senior and Junior Secondary, the UBE boss said the visit has actually afforded them the opportunity to know what is lacking in the school, and promised that every machinery would be adequately put in place to ensure that the school is made more attractive and students well taken care of.
He further maintained that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and staff of the school must rise to the occasion so as to bring back the lost glory of the school and ensure that the students are treated and well handled like their own children.
Corroborating the UBE boss, Dr. Sam Emejuru of the Post Primary School promised that everything possible would be done to reposition the school, and appealed to all concerned to be patient.
During the visit, the two Board chairmen and their members met with the school authorities wherein issues bordering on the school were discreetly ironed out and some good changes made.
Alabo Briggs also gave cash to some of the students that performed well in the essay competition that took place in Port Harcourt.
The students were also given cartons of sanitary pads to mark the International Day of the Girl Child which was celebrated all over the world recently.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) support programme on report writing for Chief Supervisors and Evaluators of the Local Government Areas took place recently at the UBE Board Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Addressing the participants, the Board member in charge of Supervision/Monitoring, Chief Nwuke Anucha, described the programme as very interesting and educative as it is aimed at broadening the knowledge of the Chief Supervisors and Evaluators on report writing.
While thanking UBEC for the initiative, Chief Anucha also commended the resource persons who came from UBEC Abuja for doing a good job and appealed to the participants to see the support programme on report writing as an opportunity to do better.
Also speaking, the Board member, Project/Technical, Dr. Walson Ominini described the programme as a good one that all the participants must take seriously for the good of Rivers State.
Ominini used the medium to announce the personnel audit for staff of the Local Government Education Authorities in the three Senatorial zones coming up next week at the Board Headquarters adding that any staff of the LGEA who does not take part in the Audit should regard himself or herself as not being a staff of UBE.
In her vote of thanks, the Director, Quality Assurance, Mrs. Nnenna Osumenya thanked UBEC for the programme, and described it as a welcomed development.
She particularly thanked the Executive Chairman of the Board, Alabo David Briggs and the Board members for giving the programme the needed attention.
By: Akujobi Amadi
In cognizance of the value of reading in educational, career and knowledge pursuits, TotalEnergies Joint Venture(JV) Asset has committed itself to instilling the habit in students of secondary schools to enable them succeed in their academic pursuits and become good leaders of tommorow.
This, it is achieving through its Annual Book Reading and Open Day programme.
This year’s event, organised for Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State,with the theme, ‘The World Is A Maze; Navigate It — Read’ and held at the Event Centre, TotalEnergies Office, PortHarcourt, explored the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’ by Ghanaian author, Alex Agyei Agyiri.
Participating schools chosen across Port Harcourt included Government Technical College, PortHarcourt; Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School, Rumuobiakani; Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School; Community Secondary School, Rumuomasi, and Hilltop Prime International College.
Others were Community Secondary School, Amadi-Ama; Government Senior Secondary School, Elekahia; Community Secondary School, Nkpogu; Dietams International Schools; and Community Secondary School, Abuloma.
In his address, the Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset, TotalEnergies EP, Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles, said reading habit remains a major essential needed for life’s development in information, direction and character building, and stressed the need for the students, many of whom he said would grow to become leaders to cultivate and sustain the culture.
Cassassoles, who was represented by the Executive Director, JV Asset, PortHarcourt, Obi Imemba, quoted former American President, Barack Obama’s words, “reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible” and stated that “this clearly aligns with the theme of the day and implies that in order to successfully navigate the complexities of life, one needs to read”.
Cassassoles said “as students, many of you will grow to be leaders and leaders need a lot of information to stay relevant. The books you read will shape your future and through them you will find wisdom to make a difference”.
According to him, the book reading event is one that the company holds dear to heart as it promotes the culture of reading among students in Nigeria.
While encouraging the students to make conscientious effort to research good books with themes and characters that align with what they intend to do in future, Cassassoles expressed the hope that the students would commit themselves to a life of reading, adding that “I expect that you will be leaving here with a clearer idea of the career path you want to pursue “.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chinedum Chukwuma, described this year’s theme as ‘most appropriate’ at a time when students have abandoned the text book for not only the phone – Whatsapp, Twitter etcetera but other vices.
Represented by the Technical Adviser to the Commissioner, Dr Joy Nwamaka Joseph, Chukwuma noted that reading is an effective tool for engaging students in critical thinking, saying “a student that reads focuses attention on the task at hand, immersing them in information and improving his/her concentration and memory”, insisting that students must read in order to navigate this maze-like world successfully.
The Commissioner commended TotalEnergies for “always seeking to improve the educational standards of our pupils, students, under/post graduates in our institutions and for inspiring them to develop the habit of reading as a life style”.
Earlier, the Country Communications Manager, TotalEnergies, Charles Ebereonwu, revealed that the annual reading event is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) targeted at making the best of future leaders.
In his closing remarks, the Special Adviser, People and Talent Management, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Samuel Nkwo, lauded the students for going beyond reading the book to taking lessons there from.
“What has happened here today has given us encouragement that this is a good thing to do and that we should continue to do it” Nkwo said.
Highlights of the event included reading and discussion of the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’, questions and answers session and presentation of gift items including school bags, solar lamps, books among others to the students.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu