NIMASA commissions historical knowledge based  e-library 

Peter Olaniyi   |

The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commissioned the first of its kind historical and knowledge based electronic  library that will serve as a  pool of knowledge for industry players and  stakeholders among others

Speaking at the commissioning at tge weekend, the Director General, NIMASA ,Dr. Bashir Jamoh said the e-library will serve as an historical center point, while stating that the essence of library is not only to go and read but to develop history

Jamoh,who informed that the library has been a very long plan of the agency, but was however able to take shape under his administration as the DG, stated that it’s  part of the management plan to develop similar course such as we have in Oxford University on “Anatomy of shipping”here in Nigeria with the help of the e- library

He further informed that the NIMASA library will warehouse a museum that will be able to take the historical perspective of shipping.

The DG advised that the e-library be made effective and not dormant even as he informed that already the agency have started receiving request from students in Lagos and outside Lagos that would like to come and visit the library.

He said the resources generated from the e-library will be used to sustain the e-library.

Speaking earlier,the Executive Director ED F&A , Hon Chudi Offordile who was represented by the Director Shipping Development, Mr. Anthony Ogadi,  said the commissioning of the e- library is in line with the goal of President Muhammadu Buhari  to revive and build key infrastructures in the country for national development.

Emphasising that the NIMASA e- library is a digital library among the few ones in Nigeria,Ogali stated  that the virtual nature of the library makes reading seamless from any part of the world,  adding that the innovation  brings the library close to the people.

He stressed that library is not just facility for warehousing books and periodicals  but an important corner stone of a healthy community, adding that the remodelling library is eminently a right footing  and right match in maritime capacity building for sustainable development.

According to him “This  innovation  brings the library closest to  you therefore wherever you are with your smart phone and other enabling devices, it  brings you to the NIMASA e- library where you can access diverse quality materials across the world.

“As you know, library is not just facility for warehousing books and periodicals  but an important corner stone of a healthy community

“By this official opening of the NIMASA knowledge center e-library, the agency has once again recruited a treasure asset to  Nigeria , Africa and the global maritime community

“To us as an agency, we treasure this asset considering the  fast and professional mandate of our profession which requires sound knowledge to achieve.

“You recall that a major course of the agency mandate is maritime capacity, hence this remodelling library is eminently a right footing  and right match in maritime capacity building for sustainable development” he said

On her part, the Librarian, Hajia Aisha Askira ,informed that  the NIMASA  library is a hybrid of both conventional and electronics, that provides information resources to support the agency in pursuing its goals.