NCC Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer (EVC / CEO) Professor Umar Garba Danbatta has asked public and private institutions to take advantage of information and communication technologies (ICT) to digitize their printed knowledge materials to make them more accessible to users. your workforce and external stakeholders.
Danbatta made the call during the week the Commission joined the rest of the world in celebrating Library Day 2021 with the theme: “Welcome to your library.”
Speaking at the event, held at the NCC headquarters in Abuja, the EVC expressed dismay at the waning culture of book reading in Nigeria, and called for a positive change of attitude in the reading culture of the nations.
He said that while ICT had helped digitize a large number of printed books available to people so far, efforts should be made to access these materials, as well as other printed books to read. He said this has become central because the ICT-driven knowledge economy requires reading and intellectual development to keep moving forward.
Danbatta underscored the importance of the library as a great resource with a variety of holdings reflecting the multifunctional structure of the Commission, the importance of which cannot be overemphasized in Commission activities, as well as in a knowledge economy.
“As the regulator of a dynamic telecommunications industry, the Commission places pride of place on the library’s resources to ensure that it is up-to-date with current information, regulatory trends and international best practices in carrying out its mandate.” Danbatta said.
The EVC further noted that it is the first celebration of ‘Library Day’ since the Commission’s library was established in 2003, noting that as an administrator and teacher with many years of experience in academia, you fully appreciate the role of a modern library to enable research and new knowledge for organizational success.
He added that the NCC library was established to provide the literature and knowledge materials necessary to facilitate access to learning and the dissemination of information.
“The NCC library is 18 years old and is a state-of-the-art knowledge and information repository with more than 1,000 technical books in print and electronic copies, as well as other materials that serve internal and external stakeholders.
“It is a reflection of who we are, where we are and the library stock is an indication of the various areas of expertise, experience and operations of the Commission,” said the EVC.
While noting that various efforts have been made, over the years, to reposition the library to meet international standards, Danbatta noted that notable improvements have been made to raise the standard of the library by not just storing it with the latest useful books, but also in terms of automation to facilitate accessibility.
“The NCC has harnessed the power of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide the electronic section to enhance the library’s information system by migrating from analog to digital, thus allowing access to remote databases of electronic form. It is a learning resource that has varieties, validity, quality and stock content ”, he added.
He stressed the need to reinvigorate a passion for learning, which he said will lead to new and better ways of doing things, as well as better collaborations in fulfilling assigned responsibilities.
Danbatta noted that the library is critical to realizing his dream of upholding the Nigerian Communications Commission culture as a respected learning organization with the best employees in its class.
The celebration of Library Day promotes the idea that libraries extend well beyond the four walls of a building and that everyone can use their services.
At the event, messages of goodwill were received from the President of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Prof. Innocent Isa Ekoja, represented by the NLA National Secretary, Omoh Atesenokhai, and a representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN), Isaac Olubisi. Ajibola.
The NLA is the national association of librarians and information professionals and the recognized group of librarians working in the public and private sectors in Nigeria.
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