Prioritise health information for development, Professor Rebecca Ape advocates as she delivers 10th FULafia inaugural lecture

A professor of library and information science at the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) and a former university librarian of the University, Professor Rebecca Ape, has presented her inaugural lecture with a call on the authorities to give priority to information-related information for development of the nation.

Delivering her professorial inaugural lecture, Ape advocated said that prioritisation of health information “can be a panacea for our national development.”

She lamented that the authorities “overlook the importance of health information, saying: "The basis of building a knowledge-based economy lies in the provision of quality information via libraries."

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According to her, "to achieve the desired healthy living, citizens need to be constantly informed on things around them and this can be done with the establishment of quality library and information services where citizens can access needed health information." 

Ape's inaugural lecture was titled: "Health Information Needs of Nigerians: An Integrative and Inclusive Approach to Library Services for National Development."

The lecture was held at the Mallam Adamu Adamu twin lecture hall at the Permanent Site Campus of the University.

Ape said: “Libraries are important cornerstones of a healthy community. Libraries give people the opportunity to find jobs, explore medical research, experience new ideas, get lost in wonderful stories, while at the same time providing a sense of place for gathering."

Ape, however, lamented the neglect and underfunding of libraries in Nigeria, calling for a change of the attitude.

"It is sad to note that farmers, researchers, health sector workers, policy makers etc. use library and information services to a very low extent and library is not their main source of information,” she said, adding: “Rather, most people depend on other channels such as neighbours/friends, personal experience, T.V, radio for their health information." 

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She appealed to the government to earmark funds for building and servicing of libraries in the nooks and crannies of the country.

Earlier, in his address, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Prof. Shehu Abdul Rahman, described Ape “as a good example of outstanding scholar in the field of library and information science whose numerous academic works attest to her contribution to knowledge in her field."

The vice-chancellor, while congratulating Ape and her family, underscored the importance of professorial inaugural lecture, saying that "the tradition establishes new collaborations and strengthens existing relationships.”

Welcoming participants to the occasion, Prof. Josephine Odey, the Chairperson, Inaugural Lecture Committee of the University, said Ape's contributions to knowledge had not only added value to staff and students of the University but to the course of library science in Nigeria and beyond.

She thanked the vice-chancellor for supporting the committee, commending guests for gracing the occasion.