The National Library of Nigeria: A 60th Anniversary With Pride
To many Nigerians,the 18th of November 2024 is a day like any other day but to the officials at the Alagomeji,branch of the National Library of Nigeria, in Lagos State.It was a special day,as they invited the public,friends of the Library and secondary school students to events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Library.
Facility visit and book gifts
One aspect of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Library creation was the invitation to visitors for a group photograph and a presentation of the facilities of the Library to secondary school students.On the same day,at the main hall of the Library on the 1st floor.There was a ceremony,where the director of the Lagos branch,Mrs C.O. Onuorah addressed the gathering,backed with presentations from other officials of the Library.There were awards for the students, gifts to guests and this author was delighted to receive a copy of Tiny Rowland:A Rebel Tycoon by Tom Bower.
The pride of Librarians talking about their work
Another aspect of this 60th anniversary event was the exchange of views between the Librarians and the public.As anecdotes relevant to the opening of the Lagos branch of the British Library in 1944 were exchanged.Conversations covered issues like how the present site of the National Library was the site of the British Library,when the British Council left the Lagos Island for the mainland.That in the 1970s the site was where, a generation of Nigerians borrowed text books to enable them write the professional examinations of the British Institute of Chartered Accountants,the Institute of Marketing and the Institute of Public Relations or the CAM Education Foundation.And it was also during this exchange of views with the public that one Librarian disclosed with exuberance that there is a plan to re-open the Wesley Street branch of the National Library on the Lagos-Island.
