Campus News

Library, key to university education -Omopupa

By Abubakar Imam

The University Librarian, University of Ilorin, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa, has said that library service is an essential ingredient of tertiary education.

Prof. Omopupa stated this last Tuesday (June 10, 2025) while featuring on Oro to Nlo, a current affairs programme of UNILORIN 89.3 FM. The programme was anchored by the Head of the Station, Mr Idris Akintola Ibrahim (Alooma).

The University Librarian explained that no institution can be called a University without a functional and well-stocked library.

He added that this is why  every institution is mandatorily required to put up a well-stocked library before it can be allowed to admit students and begin other services.

Explaining further, Prof. Omopupa said that before the National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant professional bodies grant either full or partial accreditations to universities to run a given course of study, it must be satisfied with the quantity and quality of relevant books on such programmes and other enabling materials.

He asserted that the significance of library informed the huge investment of the University in acquisition of relevant books, journals, magazines and other materials for the benefit of readers.

Prof. Omopupa said that it is not possible for anyone to pass through a University without being a good library user, pointing out that the more a student uses the library the higher the quality of knowledge he possesses.

He, therefore, charged students to always visit and make effective use of the library to update their knowledge and skills.

Speaking on the magnitude of the University Library resources, Prof. Omopupa explained that the University of Ilorin Library is one of the most equipped in the North-Central region.

Apart from the main library, which can accommodate 1,800 readers at a time, Prof. Omopupa explained that the University also has specialised libraries for different Faculties such as Law, Veterinary Medicine and the College of Health Sciences with varying but significant capacities for readers.

In addition to a large volume of relevant reading materials and other resources, Prof. Omopupa also said that the University Library is blessed with well trained, highly committed and resourceful professional librarians who are ready to assist students and other library users in the quest to improve their knowledge.

Responding to a question, the University Librarian said that, apart from the library fee payable by students, the Library does not charge any amount before anyone is allowed to access its facilities.

He also said that members of the public who are registered users of the University Library could be lent books of their choice for a given period of time, saying that those who are not registered could still enjoy the privilege with a letter of introduction from their employers.

On the contributions of the University Library, Prof. Omopupa said that the Library does not only provide quality services to students and staff of the University but also to other members of the public, recalling that he had been using the library many years before he joined the services of the University.

He also said that the University Library has been providing quality practical and theoretical trainings to students and staff members of other institutions of learning who are posted to it on industrial attachment of various periods.

On the upcoming 50th anniversary of the University, the University Librarian said that the Library Unit is ready to key-in to all the events being planned to celebrate the anniversary.

He added that the University Library is as old as the institution , saying that he and his colleagues in the Unit are ever-ready to play significant roles that would make the anniversary memorable.

On the preparations of the University Library for the upcoming rain semester examinations, Prof. Omopupa said that all the library staff are prepared to put in extra efforts to make the library available for students for the whole day.

The don, who thanked the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for his generous support for the University Library as a Unit, added that the library premises is now internet compliant as students can easily access internet as soon as they enter the library.

He also assured that the University Library does not have problem of illumination any longer, saying that readers can read and do some other things with ease and sufficient illumination.

Speaking on challenges, the University Librarian lamented the vandalisation of books by some unscrupulous library users,  warning that anyone caught would be punished accordingly.

To ensure prompt apprehension of offenders, Prof. Omopupa said that the Close circuit Camera(CCTV) has been installed in every segment of the Library to ensure proper monitoring of users.

He added that with the aid of technology, the management of the Library would easily fish out perpetrators of theft and vandalism.