Association of University Nigerian Librarians Work the Talk: Trained Heads of Digital Library in Abuja – My Experience

This was not just another meeting, but a train-the-trainer workshop where kingpins in Nigerian university libraries sat together to learn, brainstorm, and reflect on critical technological issues bedevilling university libraries. The event was hosted at the Secretariat of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Wuse II,

Abuja, between 22nd and 26th September 2025. Organised by the Association of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (AULNU) in association with the Nigerian University Library Consortium (NULIB), the workshop carried the theme The Future of Libraries: Leveraging AI Innovations, Tools and Applications. It was a power-packed convergence, with participants drawn from all Nigerian universities, particularly Heads of Digital Libraries Services. The exposures, the conversations, the learning, unlearning, relearning, up-skilling and the discovery at this five-day workshop were deeply insightful and inspiring.

Opening Day: Vision and Charge

Day One began on a high note. The chairman of the opening session was none other than the Secretary-General of the CVCNU, Professor Andrew Haruna, FNAL, FLAN. His speech was both passionate and instructive. He emphasised the irreplaceable role of university libraries in achieving the vision and mission of higher education institutions. Librarians, he said, are not just custodians of books but active drivers of innovation and knowledge creation. He also encouraged the AULNU executive council to ensure more inclusive activities, drawing participation from private universities as well. Extending a “hand of continuous friendship” between CVCNU and AULNU, he officially declared the workshop open. Following this, the President of AULNU, Professor Angela Ebele Okpala, delivered her opening remarks. She focused on what she described as the three Ps of AI: autonomous operation, predictive, and adoption

. These, she argued, form the heart of how libraries can remain relevant in the age of intelligent technologies. The Chairperson of NULIB, Mrs Bukky Asubiojo, FNLA, further emphasised the timeliness of the workshop. For her, librarians must continually up-skill, self-develop, and position themselves within the rapidly revolving knowledge ecosystem. The tone was set: this was not a workshop for passive listening but for active engagement.

Smart Libraries and Responsible AI

The first technical presentation was nothing short of electrifying. Mr Sylvester Ebhonu, a Digital Librarian, delivered on the topic Smart Libraries: Responsible AI-Powered Knowledge Discovery and Data Analytics. He passionately introduced participants to AI tools such as Kroc, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude, SciteAI, Paperpa, and many others, explaining how they can transform libraries into smart libraries. In his words, the future library is user-centred, driven by personalised discovery, and rooted in innovation. Mr Ebhonu went further, advocating for the adoption of gamification in library websites to support user education, plagiarism awareness, and research skills. By using AI applications like Replit, Claude, and Grok, he demonstrated how gamified approaches can teach students effectively while keeping them engaged through rewards.

One of the most practical aspects of his session was his live demonstration of building a library website with Claude; without any programming knowledge. He also introduced the concept of Bibliomentor, an AI-powered mentoring tool for research and learning support. His conclusion was clear and sobering: human intelligence remains irreplaceable, and while AI offers immense opportunities, librarians must champion ethical and responsible adoption.

Empowering Librarians for the Fifth Industrial Revolution

The second major presentation of Day One came after a refreshing lunch. Dr Josual spoke on the topic AI Tools for the Future of Nigerian University Libraries: Empowering Librarians for the Fifth Industrial Revolution. With energy and depth, he challenged participants on the importance of mindset, information, exposure, and what he described as soulset. According to him, librarians are the richest professionals alive—both in money, and in knowledge. In a knowledge economy, libraries are the true gatekeepers, and librarians should see themselves as billionaires of information. He urged librarians to “know something about everything and everything about something,” stressing the need to always deliver value beyond expectations. His session ended with powerful takeaways that left participants, myself included, filled with renewed hope and purpose.

Day Two: Vendors, Ethics, and Customer Service

The second day of the workshop began promptly at 9:00 am with breakfast and a series of vendor exhibitions.

·        Wolters-Kluwer showcased OVID, a robust database for medical and health sciences, complete with digital human anatomy resources, journals, books, and case studies.

·        ProQuest, a familiar name in Nigerian libraries, introduced their improved eBook reader, offering a smoother experience than Adobe Reader.

·        Eemediba Limited company demonstrated a giant automated scanner, capable of digitising fragile manuscripts with minimal human effort—a crucial innovation for archiving rare collections.

The first training of the day returned to the capable hands of Mr Sylvester Ebhonu, who this time spoke on Ethical AI Adoption and Frameworks for Inclusive Knowledge Ecosystems in Nigeria. This was not the regular sugar-coated presentation; it was blunt, honest, and deeply engaging. He raised critical concerns: What are the ethical implications of AI tools in education? How do they affect human cognitive development? What about privacy risks, financial costs, identity theft, and research integrity? Participants engaged passionately, asking tough questions: How do AI tools source information? Who owns AI-generated content? How should AI outputs be cited? What counts as true plagiarism in the AI era? The session was a hive of debate, leaving everyone both cautious and enlightened.

Group Presentations and Practical Demonstrations

In the spirit of collaboration, participants were divided into four groups and tasked with identifying problems, solutions, and policy recommendations around pressing issues in university research and practice. The group presentations provided practical insights and showed the diversity of thought among Nigerian librarians.

After lunch, attention shifted to customer service. Associate Professor Ogochukwu T. Emiri, Vice Chairman of NULIB and University Librarian of Southern Delta University, delivered a thought-provoking session on Customer Service in Libraries.

He drew comparisons with the banking sector, where customers are treated like royalty. Imagine, he said, if libraries adopted just 50% of the service culture of banks; personal touches like birthday messages, warm greetings, and polite engagement would completely transform the user experience. His message was clear: libraries must become more human-centred.

The day concluded with a demonstration presented by Dr Azeez Adeoye (popularly known as the Wizard Librarian) from the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun. His session, Using Data for Decision-Making in Libraries with Free Google Tools, was a practical gem. He walked participants through how to use Google Forms, Spreadsheets, and Gemini for data collection and analysis, and then how to automate birthday messages to patrons using Google Mail. The demonstration was captivating; not only because it was creative, but because it showcased how librarians can achieve impactful results using free, accessible tools. The audience was visibly excited, asking questions, engaging actively, and signalling their readiness to adopt these ideas in their own libraries.

Closing Moments

The workshop concluded with group photographs, symbolising the unity and shared purpose of the 55 librarians in attendance, drawn from federal, state, and private universities across Nigeria and 18 Heads of Digital Library Services Session. For me, the event was more than a professional gathering. It was an awakening; a reminder that Nigerian librarians are ready to rise, adapt, and lead in the era of AI and digital transformation. The workshop embodied its theme: it was not only about talk, but about working the talk.

Final Reflection

From Abuja, I returned to my institution with renewed energy and a fresh perspective. I had seen first-hand how collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning can reposition libraries for relevance in the future. The Association of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities and NULIB deserve commendation for putting together such a forward-looking programme. If anything, the workshop proved that Nigerian librarians are not just watching the future unfold—they are actively shaping it. 

I deeply appreciate the management of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, for sponsoring my participation in the workshop, and especially the generous recommendation of my University Librarian, Mrs Bukky Asubiojo, for this opportunity. Through my attendance and active participation, I was honoured to meet and interact with idols and mentors in the history of librarianship in Nigeria such as Dr M. O. Aboyede of EKSU, Dr Adeagbo of OAU, Prof A. S. Ebijuwa of LAUTECH, Dr AbdulGaniyu Adigun of FUAT, Okeho, Dr Amina Makintami of Yobe State University, Prof O. T. Emiri of Delta, Prof A. A. Salman of KWASU, Prof Angela Okpala of NOUN, Abuja, Dr Otunla of BOWEN, Dr P. O. Adeniran of RUN, Ede, Prof A. Oduwole of FUTA SUED, Dr S. R. Adekunmisi of BOUE, Ekiti, Dr O. Oyewunmi of EMUAE, Oyo, Dr O. A. Fadehan of OAU, Ife, Dr Aminu Umar of ABU, Zaria, and many distinguished system librarians including Mr Samson Abu of FUHSO, Mr Osaroda Wilson of Nasarawa, and Mr Yahaya Ismaila of KWASU.