Development Rose B . Okiy Nigeria : A Catalyst for Greater Female Participation in National Development

Nigeria was given a very low rating in humandevelopment by the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP) for the year 2002. This is duepartly to the patriarchal nature of Nigeria, whichemphasizes male education more than that of thefemale. The result is that fewer educated womenthan men are available to contribute to nationaldevelopment activities. The recent introduction ofthe Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmeby the Federal Government is seen as a catalystwhich will result in greater female participation innational development. The scheme sets outspecifically to redress the gender imbalance whichhas been evident in the Nigerian educationallandscape. The provision of standard multimediaschool libraries will help schools to produce a moreeducated citizenry in Nigeria. This will enableNigeria to achieve a more balanced contributionof both men and women to national developmentactivities and hence improve the country’s humandevelopment rating internationally. Rose B. Okiy is Readers Services Librarian, DeltaState University Library, PMB 1, Abraka, Delta State,Nigeria. E-Mail: [email protected] LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA Information Development (ISSN 0266-6669) Copyright # 2004 SAGE Publications. Vol. 20, No. 1, DOI: 10.1177/0266666904043800 49 © 2004 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.at PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV on April 17, 2008http://idv.sagepub.comDownloaded from MORE ON SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA The provision of library services for the effective implementation of nomadic education in Nigeria. Omoniyi, Joseph O. Education Libraries Journal; 46 (2) Summer 2003, pp.17–22. This paper investigated the provision of library services in selected nomadic primary schools in Plateau,Kaduna, Kwara and Oyo States (subsequently referred to in this paper as zones A, B, C, D, Respectively). Itfound that in spite of government’s general policy statement in the Policy of Education (NPE) document tothe effect that libraries would be built in primary schools to support primary education, the nomadicprimary schools selected for study lacked library resources and service required for effective implementationof the nomadic education scheme in the zones. This situation is also a detriment to effective learning,academic, social and occupational performance and growth of the nomadic pupils. The paper, therefore,recommended the collaboration of government, nomadic education agencies, textbook writers, NationalBook Commission, publishers and library agencies to share responsibilities for the provision of libraryresources and service in the nomadic schools in Nigeria. Assessment of school library service in a local government area, Lagos State, Nigeria: a case study. Obajemu, A S. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science; 12 (1) Apr 2002, p.59–67. Reports the results of an evaluation of aspects of eight secondary schools in Oshodi/Isolo LocalGovernment Area of Lagos State, Nigeria, including library collections, staffing, building space, furniture,and general profile. These revealed inadequacies in every area. Sets out suggestions for revenue generationstrategies to reduce overdependence on the Ministry of Education in Nigeria. (From Library and Information Science Abstracts)SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA 50 Information Development (ISSN 0266-6669) Copyright # 2004 SAGE Publications. Vol. 20, No. 1, DOI: 10.1177/0266666904043800 © 2004 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.at PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV on April 17, 2008http://idv.sagepub.comDownloaded from