Lagos to upgrade sec sch lib

The Lagos State Government on Sunday
said that it has concluded plans to upgrade
21 secondary school libraries across all the

six educational districts in the State, just as
it announced the commencement of the
State Digital Library project.
Special Adviser to the Governor on
Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh who
disclosed this in a statement, said that the
libraries would be upgraded this year.
According to him, the State Government’s
Private-Public-Partnership initiative tagged
Adopt-A-Library was geared towards
transforming the State public libraries into
modern, ICT-enhanced knowledge centres.
He said the Ipaja Public Library has been
upgraded while the Ilupeju Public Library
was recently upgraded by Custodian & Allied
as well as the Herbert Macaulay Library,
Yaba, currently under renovation by
Guaranty Trust Bank.
Bank-Olemoh further said that the libraries
and ICT centres at Ireti and Falomo
Secondary Schools were recently upgraded
by ARM Pensions while Citibank also
upgraded the library facility at Government
Senior Secondary School, Victoria Island.
He also said that PricewaterhouseCoopers
and Leadway Assurance have committed to
adopting school libraries in Victoria Island
and Surulere, respectively.
Speaking on the Digital Library, Bank-
Olemoh who said the project was in line
with the vision of Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode, was aimed at providing unlimited
access to knowledge for all through the
collection and curation of digital content
through an online portal.
The portal, according to him, 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.
He 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 said that 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 text books
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. We will approach the
project iteratively and continuously seek
feedback from end users and other
stakeholders to ensure the content and
features provided are value-adding, timely,
and innovative.
Bank-Olemoh listed some of the objectives
of the digital library to include preserving
historic and culture, enhance collaboration,
provide tutorials for children, promote local
talent and content, create jobs as well as
strengthen physical Libraries.
He said that efforts are ongoing to enhance
the functionality and patronage of the State
public libraries and school libraries.