ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

(SDGs) THROUGH STRATEGIC PUBLIC LIBRARY

SERVICES IN NIGERIA: A PROPOSED MODEL

By
Hayatudeen Adamu, CLN
Department of Library and Information Sciences,
Faculty of Education,
Bayero University, Kano
OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION
Introduction

Objectives of the study

Literature review

 Overview of SDGs

 State of Public Library In Nigeria

 Challenges facing Public Libraries in Nigeria

 Model for Achieving SDGs in Nigeria

Conclusion and recommendation

Introduction
The Sustainable Development Goals SDGs are sets
of 17 goals developed by member countries of the
United Nations in a bid to find solution to the myriads
of problem facing man and his environs.

The SDGs came into operation as a result of the

failure of MDGs which was instituted to help provide
solutions to the challenges facing developing countries
of the world.
Introduction Cont’d.
The notion of sustainable development first appeared
for the first time in 1987

It implies ‘economic development maintained

within acceptable levels of global resources.

It deals with a “development that meets the ‘needs’ of

the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
Introduction Cont’d
To effectively achieve the goals of the SDGs, there is
need for awareness creation whereby people can key
into its implementation process. Hence the need for
an efficient system for managing information of flow.

Information is an inevitable ingredient for national

development i.e. There can be no meaningful national
development if attention is not paid to information
and the agencies responsible for their management.
Introduction Cont’d
Hence, the need for a public libraries whose sole
function is to provide information services that are
inline with the information needs of the people its
community.
The position of public libraries the world over
should not be underestimated as through the
provision of the information needs of people
within its immediate environment, they
contribute immensely in the realization of
developmental objectives.
Objectives:
To identify the state of public libraries in Nigeria

To identify the challenges facing public libraries in

Nigeria

To proffer a model for the achievement of SDGs in

Nigeria through strategic public library services
Overview of SDGs in Nigeria
 The inability to achieve the goals of MDGs before 2015, brought about
SDGs
 The MDGs was marred by lots of challenges such as:
 Inconsistencies in the funding
 Emergence of new problems
 Corruption
 Poor infrastructure facilities
 Etc
 At the deadline of 2015, the world was still faced with lots of problem
from the past and even new problems were beginning to emerge, hence
the review of the MDGs from its few goals into SDGs with 17goals
inclusive of the goals from MDGs
Overview of SDGs in Nigeria Cont’d.
The SDGs are set of 17 goals officially known as
“Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development”.

The goals of SDGs are expected to achieved using the

infrastructural facilities available in the member
countries of the UN

The success of MDGs in Nigeria have been rated far

below average
Overview of SDGs in Nigeria Cont’d.
Literature reviewed have attributed this to the lack of
accessibility to information on how communities and
its members can properly participate

This is also so because, public libraries which are

community information centers that makes all kinds
of knowledge and information readily available to its
users are not fully equipped to take on this task.
State of public Libraries in Nigeria Contd.

 Nigeria with a population of over 167million and still counting is the sixth most
populated country in the world after China, India, USA, Indonesia and Brazil

 With a population growth of about 2.4 percent, this makes Nigeria the most
populous country in Africa and the largest black nation in the world.

 With a life expectancy at birth of 52.3, human development index of 0.47,

poverty rate at 62.6% (UNDP, 2016); Nigeria is a country in dire need of
sustainable developmental strides in order to lift it people from the scourge of
poverty and backwardness.

 It is Richly endowed with abundant natural and human resources that cuts
across different ethnic groups and nationalities yet ridden by poverty, diseases
and high rate of unemployment.
State of public Libraries in Nigeria Contd.
Despite these abundance in human and natural
resources,

There are only 316 public libraries in Nigeria

And managed by 3,147 professional staff (LRCN, nd)

The ratio of public librarian to the general population

of Nigeria is 327,450 persons to 1 professional public
librarian.
State of public Libraries in Nigeria Contd.
Historically, public libraries in Nigeria have been
facing series of challenges such as:
Inadequate funding
Poor facilities
Lack of professional staff
Poor collection development
Etc
These challenges have been there right from pre-
colonial times through the period of oil boom down
to this period of oil doom.
State of public Libraries in Nigeria Contd.
In this 21st century public Libraries are even more
overwhelmed with tougher problems such as those created as
a result of the coming of ICTs and its related components.

 The need to make available computers and other ICT facilities

 The need to create access to online digital resources which
requires huge amount of money
 The need to train and retrain staff for these purpose etc

Achieving the goals of SDGs will be facing lots of rigors as far

as these challenges are left unresolved.
Model for achieving SDGs through strategic
public services
Despite the above mentioned challenges, public
libraries have been able to keep their head above water
level by remaining relevant and a dominant player in
the delivery of information services to its clients.

Below are ways through which public libraries can

contribute to achieving the SDGs:
 Model for achieving SDGs Contd.
 Creating Awareness through Public Lectures and Enlightenment Program

 Serving as agency of change through the Provision of Educational

Information

 Undertaking Research

 Provision and Promotion of Public Access to Information

 Provision of Information for Planning

 Provision of Political Information

Conclusion & recommendations
There is need for proper funding of public libraries

Government should equip public libraries with state-of-the-art facilities in the

area of ICTs

There is need for increased interlibrary cooperation as no library is an island

Putting in place mechanism to checkmate corruption and mismanagement of

funds meant for Public library development

Govt. to improve on existing library laws and legislation in order to support and
better empowers public libraries

NLA and LRCN should be proactive in ensuring the right thing is done
Thank you very much for your time!