Lagos plans to upgrade 21 secondary schools’ libraries

Governor Ambode

Plans have been concluded to upgrade 21 secondary school libraries in the six educational districts in Lagos State with the take-off of the state digital library project.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, who said this in a statement yesterday, added that the libraries would be upgraded this year.

According to him, the government’s private-public-partnership initiative tagged: “Adopt-A-Library”, was geared towards transforming the public libraries into modern and ICT-enhanced knowledge centres.

He said the Ipaja Public Library has been upgraded and the Ilupeju Public Library was upgraded by Custodian & Allied.
Bank-Olemoh added that the Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba is under renovation by Guaranty Trust Bank.

He said the libraries and ICT centres at Ireti and Falomo Secondary Schools were upgraded by ARM Pensions. Citibank also upgraded the library facility at Government Senior Secondary School, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He added that PricewaterhouseCoopers and Leadway Assurance have committed to adopting school libraries in Victoria Island and Surulere.

Speaking on the digital library, Bank-Olemoh said the project was in line with the vision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

According to him, it was aimed at providing unlimited access to knowledge for all through the collection and curation of digital content through an online portal.

The portal, he added, would be accessible via an internet connection on a range of devices, including desktop computers to feature phones.

He said the content would include, among others, E-books on numerous topics, 1,600 videos covering English, mathematics & sciences for all classes, 2,000 study aids in key subject areas for secondary school subjects, quality research papers from Lagos State tertiary institutions covering a wide variety of topics to be digitised for the platform, vocational training videos, creatively presented history lessons as well as online course on coding.

The  said the first phase of the digital library would be launched in January 2017, adding that on completion of this phase, the digital library will feature Study Aids, Tutorials, Instructional Videos and selected e-books for Primary to SS3 approved texts, Brief History of Lagos State and an Online Forum.

The Special Adviser to the Governor said the digital library is principally designated to benefit all Lagosians, just as he said that the platform would be accessible from around the country and around the world.

He added: “It would also be designed to ensure optimal user experience for the designated community, which includes producers of content, publishers of approved school textbooks

“Lagos State Library Board content providers, external content providers, external providers could include individuals who want to self-publish, providers of study materials who provide their resources for a fee and other third parties.

“One of the key mandates of his excellency is that we solve problems and create value. In creating the digital library, we are committed to ensuring that we are not just setting up “another online portal”, but providing a solution…”