Egbewole, others task Unilorin Library
on digital transformation
By Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has charged the University Library to ensure the digitalisation of its processes to enhance service delivery, relevance and sustainability.
Prof. Egbewole gave the charge penltimate Saturday (September 19, 2026) while declaring open the maiden retreat of the University Library held at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Ilorin, with the theme, “Strategies Aimed at Enhancing the Effectiveness, Relevance, and Sustainability of University Library to the University Community”.
He commended the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa, and the Library management for organising the retreat, expressing hope that its outcome would positively impact the Library and contribute to the repositioning of the University.
The Vice Chancellor said that the Library should develop strategies that would enable registered students to access its materials and services remotely through the University portal, regardless of their location.
He urged the Library to explore ways of converting its rich collection of materials into e-resources, noting that its existing resources could provide valuable content beyond what is currently available through subscribed databases.
Prof. Egbewole, who charged the Library to strengthen its institutional repository by ensuring that it is adequately populated with relevant and quality academic content, urged the Library management to identify the materials required, develop strategies for generating them and set clear targets, key performance indicators and timelines for achieving the objectives.
The Vice Chancellor, who called for the establishment of a dedicated visibility team within the University Library to complement the visibility efforts of the University Management, urged the team to be proactive in generating content rather than waiting for Faculties and other units to provide all the materials needed for the repository.
Prof. Egbewole also advocated greater efficiency in the operations of the Library, urging the various units to develop clear work plans, benchmarks and turnaround processes for assigned tasks. He said staff with relevant expertise from different sections should be brought together where necessary to achieve specific institutional targets.
He also urged the Library to study leading libraries around the world and identify practices that could be adapted to strengthen its operations and improve its global competitiveness.
In his welcome address, the University Librarian, University of Ilorin, Prof. Kamaldeen Omopupa, applauded the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for his strong support for the University Library, which he said, had enabled it to record significant achievements in staff development, accreditation and service delivery.
Prof. Omopupa explained that the retreat was conceived to consolidate the gains recorded by the Library and address areas requiring improvement in service delivery, saying that, the changing nature of Library users, advances in technology, institutional ranking and visibility had made it necessary for the Library to review its traditional methods of operation and embrace contemporary approaches to information service delivery.
The University Librarian disclosed that the Library had adopted social media platforms, including Telegram, Facebook and LinkedIn, as additional channels for engaging users and providing information services.
He identified the institutional repository as another critical area requiring attention because of its importance to institutional visibility and global university rankings. He said the Library had begun reviewing its repository arrangements to improve its accessibility, reliability and sustainability.
Prof. Omopupa also identified Artificial Intelligence, online tools and other emerging technologies as areas the Library must take seriously in repositioning its services to meet the needs of modern students and researchers.
Also speaking, the Registrar of the University of Ilorin, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, charged Library staff to demonstrate commitment, discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Alfanla also urged staff to regard their appointments as a commitment to the University rather than merely a means of earning salaries and allowances. He explained the importance of punctuality, diligence, productivity and effective use of official working hours, noting that, individual conscience and discipline were essential because the University Librarian and the heads of units could not monitor every staff member at all times.
The Registrar also urged staff to maintain positive relationships with students, researchers and other members of the University community, stating thatthe Library, as a public-service institution, requires staff to interact with users with courtesy, patience and professionalism. He advised them to separate personal concerns from their official responsibilities. He noted that their conduct could shape perceptions of both the Library and the University.
The Registrar, who is also the Secretary to the Governing Council of the University, further called for the application of fundamental administrative principles, including planning, organising, staffing, directing, coordinating and controlling, in the Library’s daily operations.
