Establish libraries as constituency projects, Okojie tells lawmakers

The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Victoria Okojie, has urged lawmakers to establish libraries as part of their constituency projects.



This call, the LRCN boss said, had become necessary to improve the reading habits of Nigerians.



Okojie, who made the call when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Education visited the council in Abuja, also urged them to support the enactment of the Presidential Libraries Act.



The Registrar's call was contained in a statement signed by the LRCN Chief Information Officer, Ngozi Oboh, on Monday.She said, "We all know that the reading habit of Nigerians is poor. Available statistics indicate that an average Nigerian reads less than one book per year.



"Therefore, I urge you to mobilise your colleagues in the National Assembly to establish libraries as part of their constituency projects."



Urging them to support the enactment of the Presidential Libraries Act, Okojie noted that in advanced countries like the United States, such acts were in existence.



She added, "When enacted, the Act will make it a law for every President to have a Presidential Library on expiration of his tenure of office."



The Registrar, who called on the lawmakers to support the proposed bill, also appealed for improved budgetary provisions to the Council to enable it to transform the library sector.



The Chairman of the Committee, Aminu Suleiman, pledged to support the council's activities, especially its workshops and conferences.