LIBRARIANS REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (LRCN) INDUCTS FIRST SET OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE GRADUATES AMID CALLS FOR REFORM

LIBRARIANS REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (LRCN) INDUCTS FIRST SET OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE GRADUATES AMID CALLS FOR REFORM

The University of Jos has produced the first set of graduates from its Library and Information Science Unit, as 182 graduates were formally inducted into the Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) on March 3, 2024.

The historic Maiden Induction Ceremony, held at the Faculty of Management Sciences Auditorium of the University, marked a significant milestone for the institution and profession, formally ushering in a new generation of custodians of knowledge, research, and intellectual heritage.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration Professor Charles Pic Onwochei, expressed appreciation to distinguished guests, senior academics, heads of institutions, professionals, family members, and friends who gathered to witness the landmark occasion.

He noted that the ceremony reflects the University’s commitment to producing skilled human resources for national development while strengthening the field of Library and Information Science for greater national impact.

Delivering a strong advisory during the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria, Ambassador Ja’afaru A. Wase, urged the newly inducted librarians to be worthy ambassadors of the profession and uphold the highest ethical standards.

He also called on the University of Jos to expedite the establishment of a full-fledged Department of Library and Information Science, suggesting that the programme should be situated within the Faculty of Computer Science rather than remaining a unit under the Department of Social Science Education in the Faculty of Education. According to him, such restructuring would enhance the relevance and impact of the programme, noting with concern that the University of Jos remains the only university in Nigeria where Library and Information Science operates merely as a unit.

The inductees were admitted into the professional body after meeting the required academic, ethical, and professional standards, and their formal induction into the community of certified librarians was celebrated amid cheers and excitement.

Delivering the induction lecture, Professor Stephen Akintunde, a former University Librarian, described librarianship as a noble profession that lies at the heart of learning, innovation, research preservation, and evidence-based decision-making.

He stressed that librarians serve as custodians of research and innovation, warning that the integrity of knowledge systems could be threatened if professionals fail to uphold integrity, professional discipline, and a commitment to research advancement. Professor Akintunde encouraged the inductees to strengthen their character, pursue new research frontiers, and avoid complacency or resistance to innovation in an evolving information age.

Earlier, the newly inducted librarians also received professional guidance and encouragement from the Head of the Library and Information Science Unit, Professor Lily Ezeala, the Head of the Department of Social Science Education, Dr. Augustine Azi, and the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Grace Chollom.

They collectively urged the graduates to see themselves not merely as custodians of books, but as guardians of knowledge and information in an era increasingly threatened by misinformation and digital disruption.

The ceremony therefore marked not only a celebration of academic success but also a call for institutional reform, professional integrity, and renewed commitment to safeguarding knowledge for national development.

Written by

Tongdyen D. S. Dachung