NLA President Dr. Lawal Umar Awards Honorary Membership to Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University VC During Courtesy Visit

The management of Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Kano, warmly welcomed a delegation from the Nigeria Library Association (NLA) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, fostering potential collaborations in library development and information services.

Led by NLA President Dr. Lawal Umar, the courtesy visit highlighted KHAIRUN's rapid growth and commitment to academic excellence, with the association conferring special recognitions on the university's leadership.

Dr. Umar, who assumed the NLA presidency in 2025 following his investiture at the association's annual conference, expressed delight at the visit and commended University Librarian Hajiya Hauwa Ahmad and Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdulrashid Garba for the institution's remarkable progress in a short time. He congratulated Professor Garba on his achievements, awarding him Honorary Membership of the NLA for his exceptional support to library development and appointed him as the association's Brand Ambassador, acknowledging his dedication to advancing educational and information services nationwide.

Under Professor Garba's leadership, Dr. Umar expressed confidence that KHAIRUN will soon rank among Nigeria's top universities, praising its innovative approach to blending academic rigor with moral and entrepreneurial education. He also thanked the university for graciously agreeing to host the 2025 NLA Information Technology workshop, appreciating the hospitality extended during the visit.

Mr. Agwu Patrick U., Chairman of the NLA's Library and Information Technology (LITT) Section, echoed the sentiments, commending KHAIRUN for creating an enabling environment for academic excellence. Having organized similar programs across Nigerian institutions, he noted that KHAIRUN's facilities and atmosphere are outstanding for training, research, and development, thanking the Vice-Chancellor and University Librarian for their support.

In response, Professor Garba conveyed profound gratitude for the visit and the honors, providing a brief history of KHAIRUN and its founder, the late Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu, whose legacy emphasizes education, morality, and entrepreneurship. He reaffirmed the university's eagerness to partner with NLA, including hosting the 2025 IT workshop, to advance knowledge dissemination and library services in Nigeria.

Bilal Dahiru Tijjani, Acting Director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing, reported the event, underscoring KHAIRUN's growing role in national educational partnerships and its alignment with NLA's mission to promote innovation in library and information sciences.