New LRCN registrar assumes office

The newly appointed Registrar of Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), Professor Michael Afolabi, has assumed duties with a pledge to engage fully with stakeholders in the Library and Information Science sector (LIS).

He takes over from Dr Victoria Okojie, who was the pioneer Registrar of the Council.Speaking recently in Abuja, during the handover ceremony, Professor Afolabi said he is passionate about moving the LIS sector forward to be in tandem with librarianship practised in more advanced countries.

He assured of collaboration with other agencies of the government to reduce cost as well as working to ensure the inclusion of Nigerian libraries in the national development plans that will contribute to meeting the global 2030 Agenda, and the Africa Union Agenda 2063.

The Registrar said he will leverage on the legacies of his predecessor, build on the foundation already laid and sustain the good works he met at the Council. He also assured of adequate attention to staff welfare and promotion but said he will enforce discipline among staff to ensure effective service delivery.

Afolabi until his appointment served as a professor of Library and Information Science at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from 1999 to 2016, and was a member of Senate in the institution within the same period, having also taught at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria from 1976 to 1999. He was a member of National University Commission’s accreditation team at various times.

Afolabi is an alumnus of the School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America, where he bagged a doctorate degree in Library and Information Science. He has over eighty (80) publications to his credit.

Earlier, the former Registrar/CEO, Dr Victoria Okojie amidst cheers and ovation from staff expressed satisfaction with the level of transformation that has taken place in the Council she built from inception.Dr Okojie then called on the staff to accord the new Registrar all the support needed in discharging his duties.