Nigerian Library Association, NLA, has raised alarm that public libraries in the country are tilted to western literature and majority of the books promote western culture.
National President of the association, Dr Lawal Umar stated this yesterday during a virtual news conference to mark the commencement of the 2025 Library Week
The theme of the week-long event is “Libraries and Cultural Heritage’’.
Umar observed that libraries, being the most powerful institution for preserving cultural heritage, are, unfortunately, losing its identity in Nigeria.
He, therefore, urged citizens and institutions to support the efforts of NLA in preserving the nation’s identity.
“Libraries by nature and design are cultural institutions, established essentially to preserve the culture of the people.
“Our morals, norms and customs are supposed to be documented and preserved in our libraries.
“Unfortunately, the major challenge our libraries are facing is that they are more tilted to western literature.
“Many people say when they go to public libraries, they discover that majority of the books there are promoting western culture.
“There is disconnect, because our libraries are established to take care of our morals, culture, but these areas are being neglected”, he said.
He explained that Nigeria’s cultural heritage, such as its languages, customs, religion, values, arts, crafts, and ancestral knowledge, formed the backbone of national pride, unity and economic advancement.
He emphasised that libraries, across all categories, must serve as the nation’s custodians of identity by safeguarding manuscripts, archival materials, oral histories, and indigenous knowledge that could easily disappear without structured preservation.
Umar said the 2025 theme was chosen to spotlight the irreplaceable role of libraries in preserving and promoting the country’s cultural memory.
He urged state chapters of the association, academic institutions, public libraries, school libraries and special libraries to organise culturally themed activities during the Library Week.
The national president also appealed to students, educators, researchers, private organisations, media houses, and government agencies to engage actively by visiting libraries, donating cultural materials, and reconnecting with the knowledge preserved within the institutions.
“This year’s theme is trying to awaken the spirit of giving writings to portray our own culture.
“We want to see our manuscripts and arts address our issues and also the perception of our communities”, he added.
The NLA president expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her passion and love toward the completion of the National Library Headquarters in Abuja. NAN
