of Lagos on Tuesday,
commissioned an e-library
redeveloped from the Old
Lagos Central Library at
Odunlami Street in Central
Lagos.
Fashola said the state
government had also
provided electronic libraries
in 120 public schools across
the state, with additional 20
schools set to soon benefit
from the intervention aimed
at facilitating effective
teaching and learning.
“The essence of providing
these facilities in schools is to ensure that before any student leaves secondary school, he is
already IT compliant and ready for admission into the university," he said.
He added that the move had become expedient because Information Technology was fast
becoming the language of today and of the future, stressing the need to continually stir
students’ interest in reading and research activities.
Fashola also explained that the government’s decision to transform the public library building
was informed by its rich history.
“This is the most interesting administrative block in the history of this country. This is where
the process of building Nigeria started from. It was where taxes were collected; it had the first
court and prison; it was where Abuja was planned; and it contains a lot of records,” he said.
“So one can see it is difficult walking away from this building; this is the history we have come
to reconnect with for the benefit of the state and its knowledge seeking residents.”
In his address, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Adebiyi Mabadeje, noted that
the new e-library had 1,000 conventional books and over one million electronic books.
He said the centre also had a reference library of 500 books, as well as an audio-visual and
online test centre.
Mabadeje also said ICT was integral to a growing economy such as Lagos, in order to meet up
with international standards and best practices.
He added that the facility would be of benefit to students, teachers, researchers, entrepreneurs
and others in search of knowledge, as it would enable the use of various collections of
electronic and printed materials.
No comments: