A Professor of Library and Information Science, Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa has advocated the creation of the Ministry of Library and Cultural Development in Nigeria for easy access to knowledge, literacy, and information resources.
Professor Omopupa made the call while delivering his Keynote Address at the 50th Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Kwara State Chapter, held in Offa.
The event is themed “Librarianship in the Fifth Industrial Revolution.”
The Don, who is the Librarian of the University of Ilorin, said the establishment of the Independent Ministry would accord Librarianship and Culture desired attention, thus fulfilling the essence of their existence.
He lamented that placement of library and culture under the Ministry of Education, Information or Office of Head of Service has retarded the growth of librarianship in the Country.
Professor Omopupa maintained that the role of Libraries in information management and cultural preservation cannot be overemphasized, particularly in showcasing National Heritage, arts, and traditions.
He therefore challenged the federal and state governments to midwife the establishment of Ministry of Library and Cultural Development to specifically tackle headwinds in the education subsector.
The Librarian, who also suggested the formulation of relevant policies to support libraries and cultural institutions, called for Information Communication Technology compliance and provision of adequate funding critical to the survival of librarianship in the contemporary society.
