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Conference/AGM
43nd Annual National Conference / AGM 2005 - "Gateway
2005"
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE 43RD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND NATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF THE NIGERIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (NLA)
Introduction:
The 43rd Annual General Meeting and National Conference of the Nigerian
Library Association (NLA) tagged "Gateway 2005" was held
from 9th to 15th July 2005 at the June 12 Cultural Centre Abeokuta,
Ogun State. The theme of the Conference was "The Challenges
of Library and Information Services in an Environment of Change
and Reforms".
The Conference had over seven hundred in attendance while four
hundred and fifty delegates across the country registered as participants.
It was one of the best and most successful conferences ever organized
by the NLA in recent times. Many outstanding and memorable occasions
were featured throughout the week. These will continue to linger
in the minds of delegates.
The weeklong conference featured qualitative paper presentations;
interactive sessions; Section meetings; open discussions; business
meetings and pre-conference workshop. The exhibition that was formally
opened by H.E. Otunba Gbenga Daniel was particularly large this
year and varied in content. The cultural night was also unique and
special as the Ogun State Cultural troupe treated delegates and
the Directors of Cultural Centres in Nigeria to a heart warming
national award winner's indigenous dances and steps. The Gateway
2005 was rounded up with a tour of Ogun State most memorable one
being the climbing of the historic Olumo Rock and a visit to Itoku
Market, the home of the traditional tie and dye (Adire) native cloth.
The conference climaxed with the dinner and award night. The entire
conference was quite refreshing, businesslike, academic and worth
the while.
Pre-Conference Workshop/Seminar: [Photos]
The Pre-Conference Workshop was organized by the Public Affairs
Section of the U.S. Embassy in conjunction with the NLA (IT Section)
tagged "Internet Researching skill for the 21st Century Librarian".
Dr. Wendy Simmons (Information Resource Officer) and Mr. Samuel
Eyitayo (Information Resource Center Specialist) of the U.S. Embassy,
Nigeria facilitated the hands-on workshop. 28 professionals were
in attendance. It was held at the SouthWest Resource Center, Abeokuta
on the first day of the Conference.
At the same time, a Seminar on HIV/AIDS was also organized for
participants to equip them with correct information about the dreaded
disease - HIV/AIDS. The AIDS Information Centre International -
a section of the NLA organized it. Mrs Ruth Bature facilitated the
seminar.
Opening Ceremony and Exhibitions: [Photos]
For the first time in several years, His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga
Daniel, the Executive Governor of Ogun State graced the occasion
in person to formally open the conference. The caliber and large
number of delegates in the hall overwhelmed the Governor. The NLA
President, Dr. Daniel CLN, commended the Ogun State government and
his team for a wonderful and noticeable good works His Excellency
was doing for Ogun State in particular and for Nigeria in general.
Among many of the obvious works were the renovation of the State
Library headquarters and the great improvement of Library Services
in the State, the establishment of Ogun State Employment Generation
Project, and the improvement of educational services in the Gateway
State especially, the mass provision of instructional materials
for both Primary and Secondary Schools.
The NLA President also congratulated His Excellency on the establishment
of the Presidential Library in Abeokuta. He added that this was
a unique and historical development, the first of its kind in Africa
and look forward anxiously to seeing its completion and usage by
all. The President assured the nation that the Association has a
great stake in this matter and pledged the Association's unflinching
support for this laudable project and offered to assist in every
possible way. He therefore, heartily congratulated His Excellency,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, GPNLA (the Grand Patron of Nigeria
Library Association) for this unequalled feat among several others.
He concluded his address by appealing to His Excellency, the Executive
Governor to continue the good works until we have well equipped
libraries in every nook and cranny of Ogun State. According to the
President, Dr. J. O. Daniel, CLN, information is power and our sea
of ignorance can only recede as we get informed through sources
from the library to pick the necessary information using all available
media, which now includes the almighty electronic super highway
called the Internet. According to him, if this democracy must succeed
it must be information-based and information-driven.
Goodwill messages of Rev. Dr. Chief Musa M. Bawa, the Provost of
College of Education Akwanga, Nassarawa State, and Mallam Abdulkarim
M. Abdullahi of NTA College Jos good will messages were received
respectively. The latter stated that to demonstrate their support
for the noble cause of NLA, NTA in collaboration with an independent
production company, PRESSFIELD Nigeria Limited, has finalized arrangements
to produce a new programme series called "THE BOOKMAN",
which is meant to help in the building and establishment of more
Libraries and Book Clubs in the Country, as well as serving a veritable
tool for reviving an enduring new reading culture.
Paper Presentations:
Several papers were presented at the Conference under various sub
themes included: AHIAZU, Blessing, Ph.D, The Establishment of Virtual
University Library System in Nigeria: an exploratory study of the
Niger Delta Region; BADAWI, Ph.D The Librarian's Challenges in Nigeria's
fight against HIV/AIDS: a case study of Kano State; BATURE, Ruth,
MLS, HIV/AIDS: Challenges, prospects and window of Hope; IBRAHIM,
Umar, Ph.D, Community-Based Rental Library and Information Centres
in Nigeria: a proposal; IDIEGBAYAN-OSE, J. et al. MLS, University
Virtual Library; a case study; MABAWONKU, Iyabo Ph.D, Training for
the Library and Information Profession in Nigeria; an overview of
recent developments at the University of Ibadan Library School.
OBASUYI, Luke, MLS, The Impact of Computer and Internet applications
on Library And Information services Delivery in NARIs Libraries
in Nigeria; OGUNDANA, Lawrence. B, MLS, SERVICOM: Road Map to Credible
Public Service Delivery; and ONONOGBO, R. U., MLS, Sustainability
of National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) and
the Information Dimension.
Elections: [Photos]
The "Gateway 2005" was an election year and the secret
ballot voting system was used. The election was successfully conducted
throughout the country. The result of the election was released
as announced by the returning officer while the out-going President,
Dr. James O. Daniel presented the successful candidates to the house
during the AGM I, on Monday, 11th July, 2005 for ratification.
The new NLA EXCO for 2005 - 2007 is as follows:
1. President Ms Victoria Okojie (Oyo State Chapter)
2. 1st Vice President Alh. Rilwanu Abdulsalami (Abuja State Chapter)
3. 2nd Vice President Dr. (Mrs) Rose Okiy (Delta State Chapter)
4. Treasurer Mr. Toyin Dina (Lagos State Chapter)
5. Publicity Secretary Mr. Dominic O. Omokaro (Abuja State Chapter)
During the Annual General Meeting II on Wednesday, 13th July 2005,
three new Councilors were elected into office to replace the vacant
seats. The three successful Councilors were:
1. Mr. Chimezie Ndukaku (Imo State Chapter)
2. Mr. U. I. Mbofung (Oyo State Chapter)
3. Mrs Justina Ogbonna (Imo State Chapter)
Similarly, some members who over the years have made outstanding
contributions with high level of dedication and loyalty to Association
were conferred with the prestigious award of the "Fellow of
the Nigerian Library Association (FNLA). They were:
1. Chief (Mrs.) G. A. Uche, FNLA
2. Ms. Victoria Okojie, FNLA
3. Mr. E. O. Okegbola, FNLA
4. Mr. O. K. Odunsanya, FNLA
Venue for 2006 AGM/National Conference:
The delegates agreed to host the next AGM/National Conference for
2006 at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. You are all invited
to plan ahead.
Thank you
Anna Egoh, Ms
National Secretary
Nigerian Library Association
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