—— Says a well-equipped library system will promote a strong reading culture, support academic excellence, and enhance access to information in both urban and rural areas.
The Deputy President (East) Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Sir. Jesse Odu made this known while speaking on the topic “ Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) at 60: Milestones, Challenges and Prospects,” on the programme, Beyond the Headlines on Freedom Square TV, anchored by Uchenna Cyril Anioke.
Odu called on the Nigerian government to urgently equip libraries across the country, describing them as vital institutions for education, research, and national development.
He noted that many libraries are poorly funded, inadequately stocked, and lack modern facilities needed to meet global standards.
He stressed that libraries should serve as hubs for learning, innovation, and intellectual development, especially for students, researchers and young people.
According to him, “the importance of community libraries, state libraries, school libraries should not be overemphasized. All of us benefited immensely from this. Most of us whose parents couldn’t afford to give all the books they needed in school, availed themselves of the opportunity of using public libraries and school libraries to have those things. I am a product and a beneficiary of this system. Unfortunately I wouldn’t want the government to misunderstand me because they have been paying lip service to education especially here in the South East or in the former Eastern Region.
Continuing, we used to have all these public libraries well equipped but right now, if I tell you that for the past 10-15 years, no single book has been stocked in these libraries if they actually exist. So it is a very serious issue and apart from reading, apart from availing our children the opportunity to have books they cannot afford or whose parents cannot afford, these libraries engage our young minds, take them away from dangers and crimes. It plays a very great role in reshaping the children and the society. My take here is that the government should revive the public library system to ensure that the libraries are well manned by the right personnel. They should be well manned by the right people and current books should always be provided in the libraries. I will also suggest we have community libraries.”
Odu urged the government at all levels to prioritize library development as part of its education and human capital agenda, adding that investing in libraries is an investment in the future of the nation.
He further called on relevant stakeholders, including private organizations and development partners, to collaborate with the government in revitalizing Nigeria’s library system for sustainable national growth.