OPINION : EDO LIBRARY RELOCATION . . . a Plan towards Building an Ultra-Modern Library Complex in Edo.

By  Matthew Okunsebor.

As a gateway to knowledge and culture, library plays a fundamental role in human society. The resources and services they offer create opportunities for learning, literacy and research, thus shaping new ideas and perspectives that are central to creative and innovative societies. With the recent advent of technology, electronic library (e-library) is also gaining prominence and modern libraries now have easy access to online books, journals, periodicals and a myriad of online learning material.

Recently, Edo State Government temporarily relocated the State Library at Sapele Road, Benin City, to the State Secretariat Complex. The reason for this move is not farfetched. 

In 2017, the State Government set up a Committee to work out the feasibility for the restructuring and revival of the library system in the State. The Committee came up with a viable strategic plan towards repositioning the State Library to meet world class standards.

It was also discovered in the course of the exercise that the basement of the State Library at Sapele Road had become waterlogged, as rain and flood water had consistently flooded the basement, thus constituting threats to the lives of those using the public facility. The accumulated flood had also weakened the foundation of the building, which could have possibly led to an eventual collapse of the Library complex. But the State Government intervened before the projected occurrence of such unfortunate incident.

 

There was no better alternative than for the State Government to swiftly relocate the library and move out the personnel and materials in order to avert the impending collapse of the library building. This prompt and proactive step on the part of Edo State Government helped save an impending disaster, a seeming Sword of Damocles that was hanging over the library complex, as well as its staff and other residents of the State who make use of the facility. It is easy for critics without credible information to take a swipe at Government for relocating the library temporarily, but those who are privy to the pathetic condition of the State Library before its relocation are full of encomiums to Governor Godwin Obaseki for that laudable action.

As it stands, the Edo State Library has been temporarily relocated to the State Secretariat Complex, at the Bungalow Complex housing Sterling Bank, Sapele Road in Benin City, where it is now open for public use. The present location of the Library at the Secretariat is serene and supplied with uninterrupted power supply. All books are intact and secured.

Presently, the State Government is preparing to build a new library in the same premises at Sapele Road as soon as the rubbles of the demolished building have been evacuated from the premises. The management of the State Library Board has already prepared the required building specifications for the new library building that will be constructed by the State Government, as the Library will be relocated to its former premises as soon as the construction of the building is completed.

The new library is designed to be sound-proof and will have two wings; the E-library wing and the hard copy wing as part of the Governor's master plan for the restructuring of the library system in the State. He's determined to making the library a world class study and research centre. Going by the quality of buildings the State Government has been constructing in the past five year, residents in the State are certain of Governor Obaseki’s determination in delivering an ultra-modern library for Edo people. Furthermore, plans are also in place for the State Government to build a modern library in each Senatorial District in the State to strengthen library services for the people.

Education remains the bedrock of every progressive society. Hence, any government that desires intellectual breakthrough in all fields of human endeavour must pay high premium on acquisition of knowledge and establishment of modern libraries for capacity building. The truism that readers of today are the leaders of tomorrow is a clarion call for all Edo people, particularly students, researchers, teachers and all professionals, to prioritize reading and learning, in the quest to build a better Edo.

As Governor Godwin Obaseki remains committed to his avowed agenda to Make Edo Great Again, he is poised to repositioning the State Library so that it can provide the required quality services like what obtains in advanced countries of the world. The Governor’s determination in delivering impactful projects and programmes for the people is a testament to his people-oriented style of governance.

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