Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, Dr. Margaret Ladipo, had charged librarians in the country’s polytechnics to continue to be innovative as principal officers of their respective institutions in order to entrench global best practices in their operations, for the good of the polytechnic sector.

She has also enjoined them to keep in focus, the mandate of polytechnic education, work hand-in-hand with other principal officers to develop enabling climate that would promote and support reading and research cultures in the sector.

Ladipo, who spoke at the 50th regular meeting of the Committee of Monotechnic and Polytechnic Librarians in Nigeria (COMPLIN), also stressed the need for the products of technical education to be well heeled in their trade in order to add value to the society and further national development.

“Of great importance at this stage of our national development is the need for technical and vocational institutions to be able to produce manpower with the right knowledge and skills to drive the vision of the industries.

“They must be able to make positive impact in the developmental process of the nation rather than coming out to constitute a burden the nation. The onus is on us to brave the odds and reshape the technical and vocational education landscape.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of COMPLIN, Nurudeen Alokun, in his remarks appealed for better post-tenure treatment of polytechnic librarians, saying the absence of specific status or portfolio attached to them upon stepping down from office, denies them of what he called “correct recognition.”

Alokun said, “We demand a change and hope that the new scheme of service will address the issue and accord the former office holders the appropriate status and the recognition they deserve.”