Professional Library community finds induction centre in Rivers Varsity

…Membership hits 8,382

The professional library community in Nigeria has anchored on new footing in Rivers State as atmosphere for learning and intellectual work seems to return to the state.

This is as history was made at the Rivers State University (RSU) when the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) performed the maiden induction at the Point of Graduation (POG) ceremony. By the induction of 69 new members from two universities in the, the total number of certified and registered librarians in Nigeria is now 8,382.

The induction was performed at the RSU for the graduating students of Library and Information Science from the RSU and the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), also in Port Harcourt.

The ceremony which took place last weekend at the Faculty of Media and Communications Auditorium in RSU served as a requirement to be a registered Librarian in Nigeria.

Most of the inductees interviewed at the venue said librarians take their induction very seriously because it opens a lot of opportunities both at home and abroad.

They have job opportunities in schools, universities, hospitals, institutions, big companies, etc. Ut also opens them to ICT and other research jobs around the world.

BusinessDay gathered that in the US, they are paid a minimum of $55,000 (N85m) per year, but the status of a librarian starts from Master’s Degree. First degree and the induction help to guide the budding professional into various branches such as public library (requiring English and Literature), school library (requiring education course), and technology (requiring ICT courses).

Some professionals and academic gurus have also encouraged upcoming professionals to put in more work because of the global opportunities in it.

At the induction, Blessing Ahiazu, a professor, who is the former Librarian of the Rivers State University, and the pioneer Head of Department of Library and Information Science in RSU, said she was thrilled that RSU had the privilege of hosting LRCN point of graduation Induction.

She pointed out that the profession was a versatile one, and so the inductees should be confident as they can easily fit into any industry to work.

She thanked the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education for agreeing to collaborate with the Rivers State University in actualising the success of the induction.

She congratulated the inductees, and encouraged them to maintain relationships amongst their colleagues, while stressing that they should upskill, as digital Librarians are highly priced in the international arena.

Library science not easy to scale through:

Most persons who may not know the inner workings and syllabus of Library Science may take the course for granted. Some academics threw more light on this.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Nlerum Sunday Okogbue, while giving his opening speech, said Library and Information Science is a disciplined profession.

According to him, “The Library as we know in academics is where there is collection of books arranged orderly. That means it is a disciplined profession. So, if you are not disciplined, you cannot be there.”

The VC who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Valentine Omubo-Pepple, congratulated the inductees, while highlighting that they were the first to be inducted at the Point of Graduation into Librarianship in the University.

“There are so many of you that started this course over four years ago. Some people dropped on the road, some people got to quarter-final, some to semi-final, and here you are at the final. It is not an easy feat,” he said.

He urged the inductees to prove themselves as they go into the labour market, having passed through series of lectures, activities, and advice from committed and dedicated lecturers.

LRCN makes moves:

Meanwhile, during an earlier courtesy visit of the Rivers State Chapter of the Library Association of Nigeria and the national leadership of LRCN to the VC of Rivers State University, the sense of partnership showed greatly.

The VC who received them warmly disclosed that the Rivers State University was committed in sustaining the Induction Centre to serve the South-South region of the country.

On his part, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the LRCN, J.A. Wase, during the induction ceremony, enumerated the responsibilities of the Council.

He said it includes regulating activities of library and accrediting Library and Information Science schools, and also reviewing their curriculum.

He elucidated that the Minister of Education had given approval for the Council to induct at the Point of Graduation, and that the Council had started last year (2023) with the Modibbo Adama University, Yola.

He disclosed that the induction being held at the Rivers State University was the second batch of the Point of Graduation induction which is in the South-South part of the country.

“It is considered to be a combined induction because it is with two institutions. The graduating students from the Rivers State University and those from the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, which today we are going to induct a total number of 69 students.

“Twenty-one graduands are from the Rivers State University, 48 persons are from the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, bringing the number of certified librarians in Nigeria to 8,382,” he disclosed.

Also speaking at the event, Dominic Omokaro, a pastor and the 62nd President of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), stated that the library profession is highly regulated. He said the profession is a key segment in the association of professional bodies in Nigeria.

Making a comment, Boma Obi, a professor and Head of Department of Library and Information Science of the IAUE, who is also a co-host at the event, thanked the national leadership of LRCN for honouring them, while charging the inductees to be beautiful ambassadors of the library profession.

Responding on behalf of the newly inducted Librarians, Nwokedi Chidimma Evangeline, thanked the national leadership of the Council and the University for their efforts in holding the induction ceremony in the Rivers State University.

She revealed that she and her colleagues were elated to have been inducted at the point of graduation, as she did not expect to be a chartered Librarian right there in the Rivers State University.

That must be why she exhorted her fellow inductees to protect and hold on to the profession with the highest level of commitment to professionalism.

The Acting Head of Department of Library and Information Science in the Rivers State University, who also doubles as the Chairman, Rivers State Chapter of the NLA, Chidaka O. Nyemezu (PhD), thanked all those that worked behind the scene to record the achievements everyone that graced the occasion for their presence.

On the sideline, he said that he was elated to see that the event was taking place there in Rivers State University. “The Vice Chancellor had already said that he will sustain the Induction Centre. I trust him, and I know that he is capable to handle whatever thing that this may require.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, represented by the Registrar of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, has assured us that the Rivers State University will be used as the centre for the induction of the whole South-South region.”

He pointed out that he was very positive that the Induction Centre would be sustained, as the University has a good working relationship with the Rivers State government. He therefore charged the newly inducted librarians to be good ambassadors of the profession.

The induction ceremony was well attended by the leadership of the Rivers State University, national leadership of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), the national and state leadership of the Nigeria Library Association, lectures from the Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, the inductees, students, parents, and members of the pen profession.