By Abel Johngold
A leading elites group in Nigeria, the Council of Nigeria Library Association, has conferred the prestigious Fellowship Award on the Worldwide Treasurer of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), Chief (Dr) Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, The Giwa Iyalode of Owu Kingdom. The ceremony took place on Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.
She was honoured alongside another alumnus of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Udi Nwokocha from Abia State Branch of UIAA. And she’s the 2nd Awardee in Ogun State since 1989. The 1st was in 2008.
Presenting the Award, Dr. Dominic Omokaro, President and Chairman of the Council of NLA expressed concern that Nigerians are increasingly neglecting libraries
Emphasizing the critical role libraries play in societal progress on this year’s theme “The Library as an Agent of Change in Contemporary Nigeria”, Omokaro noted that “The idea of the library being an agent of change is that if we want to make Nigeria a leading nation, we need to get people back to the library. By doing so, we can build a reading society, and any reading society is a leading society because readers are leaders,”
While also dismissing the notion that artificial intelligence could replace libraries, he asserted that “You still need the human factor, and to study effectively, you need the library”.
Reacting to the development, the UIAA Worldwide congratulated Chief Tomori and Prof. Nwokocha. In a statement circulated among pressmen on Sunday, 3rd November, 2024, the Alumni described the award as meritorious and heart-warming. The statement was signed by the worldwide President of UIAA, Professor Saawua Gabriel Nyityo.
We, the Members of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA) Worldwide felicitate with our Worldwide Treasurer, Dr. Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, JP, The Giwa Iyalode of Owu Kingdom, on the occasion of the conferment of the prestigious Fellowship Award by the Council of Nigeria Library Association (NLA). It is meritorious and heart-warming. It is the greatest news of the year and the best gift of the UIAA in 2024.
Nigerian Library Association has put the cap on the head that fits. The Professional body has vehemently affirmed that diligence and hard work goes with rewards. We commend this Association for coming out to honour a highly gifted and hardworking woman.
This award is not for Dr. Tomori alone. It is another feather in the hat of the Worldwide Executive Council of the Univerrsity of Ibadan Alumni Association. Just as it takes the deep to call to the deep, so does it take the jewel to identify and associate with the gem among other collections. The recognition is also for all Nigerians of goodwill, for all men and women who stand for justice, fairness and objectivity. It is equally for those who believe in rewarding merit and shunning mediocrity. It is for those who stand up for the truth.
UIAA is proud of Tomori. She is indeed a rare breed. We are greatly delighted to see a highly placed traditional Chief, The Giwa Iyalode of Owu Kingdom perfectly combining professionalism, intellectual brilliance with a robust appetite for library and financial skills that has made her a nulli secundus asset dishing out first class services to NLA and UIAA. It is quite noteworthy that those who gave the award researched the UIAA Worldwide Treasurer’s innovative operating system in all the groups she belongs to.
Our message to our Treasurer, Dr. Oyinade Olujimi Tomori, is this: This is another motivation for you. This recognition is an indubitable proof that millions of Nigerians appreciate you.
The reward for Chief Dr. Tomori’s diligence, commitment to duty and patriotism is just beginning. Time will tell. There will come a time when Nigerians will look back and say, ‘We have a woman who can do it. She has done it before’.
Professor Saawua Gabriel Nyityo
Worldwide President
UIAA.
In her keynote address, the Guest speaker, Dr. Chinyere Ibeh highlighted the importance of libraries in research, describing them as “the fulcrum of research and development” essential across all fields.
However, she noted that libraries in Nigeria face significant challenges, including a shortage of physical and virtual libraries relative to the population, a wide digital divide, and insufficient investment and funding from stakeholders.
“If we are to harness the full potential of libraries as agents of transformation, we must address the limitations impacting their reach and effectiveness by investing in both physical and digital infrastructure and empowering librarians with the necessary tools and training,” Ibeh added.
Other Awardees are Dr Kathryn Phillips of UniUti and Dr Chigozie Ugwuona.
The occasion was chairman by Rear Admiral Francis Ogbe Isaac Rtd, mni.