The executive vice-chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said the commission intends to maximise the library resource in meeting its mandate and expanding knowledge and information.
He stated this at the 2021 Library/Museum Day with the theme – ‘The future of museum, recovering and re-emerging’ in Abuja, describing library as a learning resource assessed by its level of currency in its quality, quantity and variety of the stocks.
He explained that an important component of the library resource is the e-section, which allows electronic link-up and access to more databases and information.
“The library is a learning resource. The stock of a library is normally assessed by its level of currency, which is the quality, quantity, variety of the stock. We must be able to embark on assessing the whole thing.
“An important component of the library resource is the e-section. The e-section is the section that allows you to link up and access more data bases for information.When we assess the library, we pay careful attention to the ability of users to access more data bases electronically.
“The most important thing is for you to be able to sight a reference that is credible. The library is a component of the entire learning process. I believe the outcome of today’s event will help change our reading culture, if you don’t have a reading culture, please try and acquire one, it is very important to read. It will motivate us to have a critical look on innovations,” he said.
The NCC boss averred that the theme of the year’s celebration captured the purpose of the commission’s special museum dedicated to the telecommunication’s industry, adding it was important to collect exhibits and conserve telecommunication’s items to enlighten and educate stakeholders.
“Museums generally play important roles in the society by observing the past and appreciate the future through providing insight into the history of a people and educating a future of generations,” Danbatta further said.
Earlier, the director-general, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Nigeria, Abba Isa -Tijani, said museums play crucial role in preserving local culture with careful documentation and artifact preservation of institutions and sectors.
Represented by the assistant director, museums, Kilba Zainab-Uche, he said the museum sector must move with new trends of technology development, adding the traditional roles of museums in development could not be underestimated, even as he applauded the commission for setting the standard for other institutions and pledged to support the museum whenever the need arises.
“The NCC has a museum where significant and historical telecommunications objects are exhibited, this is historic. So, the new role of museums in the digital era is till emerging. The museum is not yet completely digital because there is the need to converge both the new and traditional.
“If the traditional role is completely phased out, it will create a problem because from time to time you will have to go back to your past in order to know where you are in the present and to forge ahead,” he added.
