My friend Aloys Chidi, in Lagos, mentioned in passing on another post that he does not have access to a public library. A quick search revealed the following comments: For a country with the population of Nigeria (around 167 million), there are stunningly few public libraries: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_libraries_in_Nigeria This is what it looked like in 1998: sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S1057231798900868 A very brief description of the state of play in 2010: webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/posigha2.htm This paper, written in the same year, suggests some remedies for the situation: ajol.info/index.php/afrrev/article/view/69230/57265 This undated study also describes the problem: worlib.org/vol20no2/igia_v20n2.shtml I have to say that I am surprised - and alarmed - by this state of affairs. In general, the Nigerians that I have met have been well-educated and articulate, and I perhaps guessed that there would have been more demand for public libraries. Libraries are, in my opinion, the most basic tool of freedom and democracy (in the true sense) as they encourage independent, critical thought. I would very much like to hear what Paul Sturges has to say on this, as he has done extensive research on Africas libraries.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 05:32:24 +0000