Association wants 10% varsity funding to libraries

The Nigeria Libraries Association (NLA) has urged the federal government to restore direct funding of libraries of Federal Universities through the Library Development Fund (LDF).

President NLA, Prof. Innocent Ekoji, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a briefing to mark this year’s library awareness week.

According to the professor of Library Sciences, the reliance on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), by universities to stock its libraries have hurt rather than help university education in the country.

“Federal government now depend solely on TETFUND, which is just an intervention fund, and should complement what government is bringing. Ten percent of what government brings to our universities should come to the library. But that is not the situation, Prof Ekoji said.

Also present at the briefing are Dr Ogochukwu Emiri, public relations officer of NLA; Dr Victoria Okojie, former president of the association; Dr Ifeoma Echezona, Librarian, University of Abuja, and many others.