Institute tasks government, individuals on information management

The Institute of Information Management (IIM) has called on the Federal Government and individuals to rededicate themselves to the effective organisation, funding and management of the country’s archives and records.

The move is in vigorous attempt to educate Nigerians on the importance of record management processes and archiving.

Speaking at the Archive Day conference, the Chairman of IIM, Oyedekun Oyewole, said that promoting effective records management system would enable the FCT administration achieve good governance and accountability, thereby engendering national development.

He said the International Archives Day is aimed to raise awareness amongst organisations regarding the importance of archiving media, documents which is the single most important step in protecting data from loss

“Records are documentary evidence of transaction kept for reference for a long period of time and such records kept are referred to as archives,” he said.

Also, a guest speaker, Adetoyese Olagunju, said IIM, since 2004, has been developing the frontiers of records and information management, not just in Nigeria, but also across Africa.

“The institute organises programmes, events and certification programmes- all of these activities are geared towards making sure that information management professionals abreast of with the latest trend, technology and best practice.

“We have worked and strategically partnered with several international organisations in the past to promote information management and archiving,” he said.

He further explained that the IIM is making sure that organisations, government and individuals keep up with required and best standards of information management.

“In recent times, with the advent of technology, the way information is being conveyed requires total cautiousness. That is why the Institute has ensured that all professionals and information managers are properly trained to handle the complexities involved in managing records and information,” he said.

However, Adetoyese warned that there are several issues hampering the progress of information management in Nigeria such as the enabling laws, calling on the National Assembly to expediently pass the Data Protection Bill.

“UK recently reintroduced their Data Protection Regulation, that is what a country like Nigeria should imbibe this kind of a thing,” he said, lamenting that Nigeria has been carrying out the National Identity Card projects without having the ambling laws that ensure that data captured are being protected.

“No country has ever moved forward without having correct and qualitative data. How can the government know how many graduates it churns out every year? How about mortality rate and unemployment rate?”

“In this part of the world, we only see things like buildings, land and cars as assets. But data is also an asset that government should start taking seriously by taking proper actions that will ensure enabling laws,” he added.