The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 and Thursday, June 24, 2021 marked this year’s International Library/Museum Day with the charge on Nigerians to imbibe reading culture and preserve cultural artifacts.
Recall, Library is a building or room containing collections of books, periodicals, films, recorded music for use, while a Museum is a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural artifacts are stored and exhibited.
The comission, as part of activities to mark the day, led the participants on tour of its library and museum, explaining the significance.
Earlier, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta urged Nigerians to imbibe reading culture in their daily activities for a better knowledge and information for the development of the Country.
He explained that the library was a learning resource, which was assessed by its level of currency in its quality, quantity and variety of the stock.
He said that an important component of the library resource was the e-section, which allows link up and access more data bases for information electronically.
He called on the commission also to continue to seek ways to maximise the library resource in meeting its mandate and expanding knowledge and information.
“The library is a learning resource. The stock of a library is normally assessed by its level of currency, what is the quality, quantity, variety of the stock. We must be able to embark on assessing the whole thing.
“An important component of the library resource is the e-section. The e-section is the section that allows you to link up and access more data bases for information. When we assess the library, we pay careful attention to the ability of users to access more data bases electronically.
“The most important thing is for you to be able to sight a reference that is credible. The library is a component of the entire learning process.
“I believe the outcome of today’s event will help change our reading culture, if you don’t have a reading culture, please try and acquire one, it is very important to read. It will motivate us to have a critical look of innovations,” he said.
Speaking about Museum, Danbatta said that the theme: “The Future of Museum, Recover and Re-Emerging” captured the purpose of the commission’s special Museum dedicated to telecommunications industry.
He said that it was important to collect exhibit and conserve telecommunications items to enlighten and educate stakeholders.
“Museums generally play important roles in the society by observing the past and appreciate the future through providing insight into the history of a people and educating a future of generations.
Mr Abba Isa -Tijani, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria (NCMM) said, Museums play a crucial role in preserving local culture with careful documentation and artifacts preservation of institutions and sectors.
Isa-Tijani, represented by Mrs Kilba Zainab-Uche, Assistant Director Museums, said that the Museum sector must move with new trends of technology development, adding that the traditional role and aspect of museums can not be undermined.
He applauded the Commission for setting the standards for other institutions and pledged to support the statutory body for museums when ever the need arises.
“The NCC has a museum where significant and historical telecommunications objects are exhibited, this is historic.
“So the new role of museums in the digital era is till emerging. Museum has not yet completely gone digital because there is the need to converge both the new and traditional.
“If the traditional role is completely faced out, it will create a problem because from time to time you will have to go back to your past in order to know where you are in the present and to forge ahead,” he said.
