Sagging ceiling, shattered windows and defaced walls.
These are the lot of the 58-year-old Enugu State Central Library. The
legacy structure is in ruins. The library is battling with antiquated
academic materials and decaying infrastructure that are giving users
unpleasant experience. Will the government allow the library to
collapse? JAMES OJO (400-Level Mass Communication, University of
Nigeria, Nsukka) and GIDEON ARINZE (300-Level Mass Communication)
report.
It used to be a prized knowledge base for researchers and students.
For academics, it was a pristine environment for scholarly exercises.
The Enugu Central Library was a hub of academic excellence.
Today, all these have become past glory. Sagging ceiling, shattered
windows and defaced walls have become the lot of the 58-year-old
library. The once-vibrant public library is now a shadow of itself,
because of its structural decay. Located on Ogui Road in Enugu, the
library has been allegedly abandoned for many years by the government.
Established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1958, it is reputed to be the first
public library in West Africa. The facility was built to provide a
serene environment for research and acquisition of knowledge. Because of
its quiet location, researchers frequented the library.
In line with the UNESCO mandate, the 100-seater library was filled
with loads of useful textbooks, educational and research materials. It
was gathered that users preferred the library because it housed
materials that were not available elsewhere.
Ironically, the library now offers antiquated materials that cannot add value to modern knowledge and research.
When CAMPUSLIFE visited the library, only a few users were there. A
look at the book shelves left much to be desired; they hardly contained
updated books.
Most of the books are remnant of torn textbooks and research
materials. Inside the stuffy library halls are old and broken tables and
chairs. The halls are hardly ventilated, making studying difficult.
Some users go with hand fans and other light materials for
ventilation. There is no physical change in the facility, indicating
that nothing had been done to expand it. The library presents a grim
picture of itself, indicating that it is in need of attention.
To worsen the situation, the library is daily choked by the noise
around it. Located in front of it is an bus park. At the back is Ogbete
Main Market. The noise from speaker at the park and at the market is
enough to discourage first-time users of the library. The users also
battle with the odour of urine, oozing from its fence close to the bus
terminus.
More so, the library lacks functional computers that can provide e-
library services and easy access to information. The 10 computers in the
library, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, were donated by the Wawa Women in Texas,
United States.
According to the Acting Director, Enugu State Library Services, Mr
Jude Offor, the Central Library was conceived to be situated in a quiet
environment to enhance learning and promote research. He regretted that
the facility is now choking in noise.
He said: “People around the world used to visit this library for
research. We used to boast of well-trained staff whose jobs were to make
users have good experience. We used to sponsor our staff to attend
local and foreign workshops to improve their knowledge.”
Offor said the library was struggling to achieve its mandate because
of lack of funding. “As you can see, we don’t have modern books. The
environment looks deserted and bushes are overtaking the structure,” he
said.
A user, Franklin Igwe, described the library as “unorganised”, saying
it lacked modern books. “I have come here several times to research on
financial management, but I could not find anything related to the
topic,” he said.
Amaka Okwuiyi, a worker, said the library may collapse if the
government did not take steps to solve its challenges. She said: “We
don’t have regular source of power supply. There is no water. There is
no functional ventilation system that gives users good experience.”
Offor blamed it all on what he called the government’s lukewarm
attitude towards giving the library a facelift. The government, he
claimed, had not responded to calls to adequately fund the library.
He said workers were being owed seven years subvention, amounting to
about N50 million. He added that retirees were owed allowances of about
N45 million.
Offor said: “The library is placed under parastatals and not
ministry. It receives insufficient subvention from which workers are
paid salary. Each time we receive the subvention, we manage to pay
workers. The bulk of the money goes for repairs.”
He appealed to the government to attach the library to a ministry for
it to have a special budget. This, he said, would make the facility
reclaim its glory. Offor said the library’s challenges must be addressed
promptly to enable it meet its mandate
