The Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) has commended the Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS) for establishing one of the best library and e-library in Nigeria’s private universities.
The Registrar of the Council, Ambassador Jafaru Abdullahi Wase made the remark during a verification visit to the University on Friday.
According to him, the assessment visit is part of the Council’s mandate to ensure compliance by universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions of rules for the purpose of accreditation.
“To accredit library and information sciences programmes in universities and other tertiary institutions, we must ensure that such institutions have complied with LRCN rules.
“We are pleased with what we have seen of your library, especially the e-library. Compared to those in the other universities we have visited, yours is one of the best,” Wase said.
He also emphasized the importance of resource verification in universities, explaining that the process, introduced in 2004, covers curriculum review, accreditation, monitoring, e-library development, and capacity building.
Mr Wase also announced that the council’s website is fully operational for student registration and other academic services.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor of NWUS, Prof. Mukhtar Umar Bunza said the institution is aspiring to be one of the best private universities in the world.
“We are working to ensure that NWUS stands out as one of the best universities. In such aspiration, we are doing our best to make sure that we provide what is required for all our programmes to also stand out. On this occasion, we believe in the concept that ‘where there is no good library, there is no knowledge’.
“Looking at what we have achieved in three years of the existence of the university, the sky is our limit,” Prof. Bunza assured.
He noted that meaningful research and knowledge advancement are impossible without functional libraries, adding that the establishment of NWUS was driven by the vision of its founder, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, to educate and empower young people.
Prof. Bunza highlighted the shortage of qualified librarians in Nigeria, urging students not to be discouraged by challenges but to focus on available opportunities. He pledged the university’s full support to strengthen library services, noting that his own academic success was shaped by effective use of libraries.
On the Registrar’s entourage were the Deputy Registrar, Dr. Ifaka Inazu and Chief Librarian, AbdulHakeem AbdulKareem.
