WEEK 2 of 7 Habits for Year 2024 – (BE PROACTIVE) Stephen Covey’s Book Review
In the second week of our 8-week journey through Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” we discussed the first habit: Be Proactive. We were honoured to have an enlightening dialogue with our guest – Maryann Mbat, who shed light on the profound impact of proactivity on personal and professional growth.
Self-Awareness and Breaking Free from the Social-Mirror
Proactivity is more than just taking the initiative. It’s about recognizing our responsibility to shape our lives, decisions, and responses, independent of our external conditions. Covey emphasizes the unique human ability to reflect on one’s thoughts and actions, a trait that sets us apart from the animal kingdom. This self-awareness enables us to choose our responses to the stimuli around us, thereby defining our reality.
We were able to explore how the “social mirror” often distorts our self-perception, reflecting not who we truly are but how others see us. Covey eloquently describes this phenomenon: “Our view of ourselves is like the reflection in the crazy mirror room at the carnival.” He suggests that these reflections are more about the projections of others’ insecurities and less about our true selves. This can be a mix of their perceptions, paradigms, and even their insecurities. Covey challenges us to look beyond these reflections and to understand that we are not solely products of our environment or genetics but of our choices and responses.
Proactivity vs. Reactivity
Proactivity is defined by Covey as the responsibility we hold for our lives, where our behavior is a function of decisions, not conditions. “Proactive people recognize their ‘response-ability’—the ability to choose your response,” Covey explains. This contrasts starkly with reactive people, who often absolve themselves of responsibility, attributing their behavior to external factors.
Maryann, during the webinar, highlighted this distinction with real-life examples, illustrating how proactive individuals choose their actions based on values and not on their environment or conditions. They focus their energy in their Circle of Influence, working on what they can impact, which in turn, magnifies their influence.
The language we use serves as a mirror to our mindset. Reactive language often relinquishes responsibility, with phrases like “That’s just the way I am” or “There’s nothing I can do about it.” In contrast, proactive language embodies empowerment and accountability, focusing on what can be controlled and influenced.
A key concept discussed was the Circle of Concern and Influence. Whether facing direct, indirect, or uncontrollable problems, proactive individuals recognize that the first step to a solution lies within the circle of influence – things you can control, not things you cannot control – circle of concern.
The Challenge and Application Suggestions
To bring these concepts to life, we proposed a 30-day challenge recommended in the book and encouraging participants to be committed to it as they act within their Circle of Influence, embracing proactive responses over reactive ones. This includes being a light, not a judge; setting positive examples; and learning from mistakes.
The review of the first Habit – Be Proactive lasted for 45 minutes and the message was clear: embracing proactivity is embracing the power of choice. It’s about recognizing that our responses, not our circumstances, define our reality. This realization is pivotal to personal growth and effectiveness.
Watch the Replay here:
Don’t miss the next review (Habit 2).
To achieve your Career and Personal Development Goals, join the Upskill and Connect Village – visit https://www.thedigital-librarian.com/upcoming-events
WEEK 1 of 7 Habits for Year 2024 – (An Overview) Stephen Covey’s Book Review
Last weekend marked the exciting start of an 8-week journey reviewing the powerful lessons in Stephen Covey’s Book – “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. Published in 1989, this influential book has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and shaped many people’s thinking on effectiveness and success.
Kicking off the first day of the review, the host Sylvester, started by highlighting some of the extensive praise that the book has received from experts in various fields. For example, we read out the endorsement stating that the book can help you “live permanently in the winners circle” – emphasizing the profound impact the habits can have.
After setting the stage, we summarized the structure and core concepts of the book, which provides a strategic sequence – first mastering self-discipline and then using that foundation to improve relationships and interactions. Renewal ensures you continue growing. Or as Covey put it, private victories precede public ones. The four major parts of the book:
- Part 1 covers paradigms and principles
- Part 2 deals with “private victories”
- Part 3 focuses on “public victories”
- Part 4 is about renewal
An important distinction made early in the book is between personality ethic and character ethic. As we learned, personality ethic is the idea that success just comes from image, techniques and behaviors that can be quickly learned. But character ethic focuses on integrity, humility and other virtues that take time to cultivate.
The book emphasizes character ethic as the superior path, whereas much of society embraces personality ethic. As Sylvester noted, we cannot simply learn to have integrity – it must be built over time. This ethic aligns with the “inside-out” approach recommended in the book.
The Power of Paradigms
According to how the author compared paradigms to maps – if your map does not accurately reflect the territory, you will keep getting lost no matter how hard you try. Likewise, we can be ineffective if our mental maps and assumptions about life are flawed.
To illustrate this, we carried out an engaging exercise in the book, with a classic sketch that can be seen as either a young or old woman. By first asking people what they saw and then prompting them to try seeing it from another perspective, he demonstrated how strongly our perceptions can be shaped by conditioning.
This ties into the notion of paradigm shifts – those sudden “aha” moments when we finally start looking at something in a new way. The book emphasizes being open to paradigm shifts rather than being stuck in old thinking.
Principles vs Paradigms
Connected to this is the distinction between principles and paradigms. Principles are like lighthouses – timeless natural laws that provide guidance. Paradigms are our individual perspectives that can always be expanded, evolved or shifted. We took a few moment to read a story from the book about the Captain of a ship who kept insisting the lighthouse move out of his way, not understanding it was rooted in unchangeable principles.
This story highlights that we cannot force or fight the principles of life, only align our paradigms with them through better understanding.
Inside-Out Approach
Because flawed perceptions are often the root issue behind ineffective behavior, the book advocates an “inside-out” approach to change. This means focusing first on self-mastery and private victories before trying to change outward behaviors, and of course, this has to be tied into the structure of the 7 habits.
Overview of the 7 Habits
Mr. Grandee Ughoton a Guest Reviewer summarized what each of the 7 habits represents:
- Be Proactive – Take responsibility for your life rather than blame external factors.
- Begin with the End in Mind – Define your values, goals and direction to ensure you live intentionally.
- Put First Things First – Prioritize and focus on the vital few actions that matter most.
- Think Win-Win – Adopt a mindset of mutual benefit rather than zero-sum competition.
- Seek first to understand, then to be understood – Communication is more effective when you listen deeply rather than react.
- Synergize – Tap into collaborative creativity to find combined solutions.
- Sharpen the Saw – Commit to continuous self-renewal mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.
The author emphasized that habits 1-3 make up the “Private Victories” dealing with self-mastery, while 4-6 are the “Public Victories” dealing with relationships. Renewal ensures you have continuous growth.
Application Suggestions
Throughout the first day’s review, we focused not just on explanation but on application. Stephen Covey guarantees results for those who apply the material consistently over time.
To start the application process, the host – Mr. Sylvester Ebhonu (The Digital Librarian) suggested two initial exercises:
- Identify your own paradigms in life by considering how you view your work, relationships, challenges, communication style and so on. See if you can shift perspectives.
- Make a habit over the next week of trying to understand situations from multiple points of view before reacting. Think win-win.
- He also strongly encouraged everyone to obtain their own copy of the book to fully engage with the material during this 8-week journey.
In summary, the first day reviewing The 7 Habits provided an inspirational introduction to the key ideas and frameworks that will be explored in more depth over the coming weeks. The concepts of paradigms, principles, private victories and habits have already sparked great discussion and reflection.
Watch the Replay here:
This program promises to be a transformative opportunity for all those who engage fully with the principles taught. We will keep you posted on each week’s outcome and how to put these Habits into practice!
To achieve your Career and Personal Development Goals,
join the Upskill and Connect Village –
7 Habits that will transform your life in Y2024
Books by Stephen Covey have touched millions of lives, and among them, ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ stands out. It steers away from the prevalent personality-centric narrative and, instead, champions the character ethic.
Sylvester Ebhonu (The Digital Librarian) is set to kick off the 8-Week Review of the book, providing insights and an overview of the transformative habits that viewers and participants can adopt to thrive in the year 2024 and beyond:
Habit 1 – Be proactive
Habit 2 – Begin with the end in mind
Habit 3 – Put first things first
Habit 4 – Think win win
Habit 5 – Seek first to understand then to be understood
Habit 6 – Synergy
Habit 7 – Sharpen the saw
To achieve your Career and Personal Development Goals, join the Upskill and Connect Village – visit https://www.thedigital-librarian.com/upcoming-events.
Summaries will be posted on my blog: https://www.thedigital-librarian.com/blog/
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL NOT BE A REPLACEMENT FOR HUMANITY – PROF OMAJI, VC ADUN
BREAKING NEWS:
Vice Chancellor of Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN) Prof. Paul Omojo Omaji, says Artificial Intelligence, despite its impact in almost all sectors of life, will not be a replacement for humanity, but will be a great tool that will propel economic, educational, and transformational development, and serve as a tool for productivity and uplifting humanity to a higher plain of greatness.
The Professor of Criminology who stated this at the Opening Ceremony of the Virtual Artificial Intelligence Masterclass (AIM) in Work and Research Productivity on Saturday 24th June, 2023 also launched an e-book authored by staff of the University – Christabel and Sylvester Ebhonu (Conveners of the Virtual Programme) describing the Masterclass as a ‘Master Stroke’. Responding to some misgivings expressed about Artificial Intelligence not just replacing humans or taking their jobs, but displacing God in the future, Omaji says, “Artificial Intelligence will continue to be a tool, but it will not be a replacement of humanity.”
In his review of the e-book titled: Prescribed AI/Digital Tools for Work, Research and Productivity” , Prof. Omaji said this about the authors:
“Sylvester and Christabel have joined their efforts, their interest, curiosity, and their purpose-driven lives, to put together this book being launched today. In the book, you would find incredible tools that will enable you to navigate in your research, work environment, and in your passion for productivity; the tools that will help you to acheive greatness with minimal effort. In other words, they have put together a book that already points you to areas where you can identify the tools that will help you. It is only a lazy person that blames the tools that you use, because the tools are there… and what these young people have done is actually to fish them out, having shown their own passion in this area and having indeed, used some of these tools to great benefit, they are introducing the tools to the whole world and inviting all of us to develop active interest and engagement with the tools so that we can increase in our own productivity.
I cannot overrate this particular work, yes, it is a kind of pioneer work in this field, at least in this part of the world. It is in a way, blazing the trail, and I believe many of you who are participating in this Master Class will join and begin to chart your own paths in the area of Artificial Intelligence.”
This invaluable e-resource on AI and Digital tools is available on Selar for download at https://selar.co/m/thedigitallibrarian.
Other key Speakers and Panelists present at the event include Mr. Bethel Christian, Urhefe Victor, and Dr. (Mrs.) G.N Onyia (ADUN Librarian), Mr. Patrick Agwu (Chairman NLA IT Section), Mrs. Alice Omaji (Director of Admissions, ADUN), Dr. Ayo Alonge and a host of many other seasoned professionals.
The 2-Day Virtual event, which continues today continues today 25th June, 2023, will be accessible only to those who subscribe to the official YouTube Channel of The Digital Librarian.
This Masterclass is co-organized by The Digital Librarian, ADUN Library, Nigerian Library Association (NLA) IT Section, Tech Chef, and other human capacity-building organizations.
ChatGPT: The New Love of Undergraduate Students – Healthy or Unhealthy Relationship
Report by Bamidele Oluwaseyi and Sylvester Ebhonu
On the 30th of November 2022, the San-Francisco based AI research and deployment company, OpenAI, launched a free-to-use AI model in the nature of a chatbot built on their GPT-3 family of large language models that’s designed to simulate conversations with human users over the internet. With respect to the AI model’s diversity and ability to present invaluable responses in humanly understandable texts, it’s no surprise that the model has become the fastest-growing consumer application gaining 100 million active users in the first two months of its release and a statistical average of 13 million visitors per day as of January 2023 with its users ranging from engineers, programmers, artisans and even students. Yes, students!
As with every innovation in AI engineering, there’ll always be controversies surrounding the development and usage of these technologies, and ChatGPT is not eluded from these variations in opinions, especially in the educational sector. Within just weeks of its release, students of the Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN) have utilized ChatGPT to enhance research and aid comprehension and in like manner, they may also be impairing their cognitive problem-solving skills in respect to their overdependence on the bot. This contradiction struck the interest of media enthusiast and e-librarian of the Admiralty University of Nigeria, Mr. Sylvester Ebhonu, prior to the annual Valentine’s Day Celebration, and in the spirit of information and digital skills literacy, he’s wanted to hold a discourse session talking about the advantage and controversies surrounding the chatbot as with regards to the university community. The session would address ChatGPT as model worthy of affection to students and teachers alike, and what better period to host such than on the globally recognized ‘day of love’ – St. Valentine’s Day (14th February, 2023) at ADUN Main Library, Ibusa, Delta State.
Together with his trusty co-host Miss Treasure Samuel-Ogolo, Mr. Ebhonu, some lecturers and students of the University undertook a thrilling dialogue session on the evening of Valentine’s Day to discuss ChatGPT and its impact on students all over the world, hence the headline of this report. In attendance were; the esteemed librarian of the institution, Dr. (Mrs.) G.N. Onyia; Mr. Pius U. Ejodamen as key resource person with support from Mr. Tega Avwokuruaye, Mr. Destiny Nwosa and Mr. Abiola Olaibi; and of course, some undergraduates of the institution – Admirables Bamidele Oluwaseyi, Imianvan-Anthony Peace, Woghiren E. James and Ogbaide O. Prince – who by all means, are the core of the discussion.
Opening the dialogue, the University Librarian, Dr (Mrs.) G.N. Onyia, who shared her veracious view on technology explaining its ever-evolving nature with yesterday’s trend becoming obsolete in today’s environment. She also commended the Admirables (students) for embracing the new development in AI tech and expressed her delight in their enthusiasm and willingness to discuss its impression on students. She did, however, encourage participants to augment their success not just by adopting technology but also learning to implement it responsibly in study. Following her remarks, Mr. Pius Ejodamen, gave a general overview of AI technology, highlighting already accomplished expectations in the field and establishing a line between acquiring tech and utilizing it. Then spoke the Admirables who shared their opinionated perspective on the bot and its footprint on institutions all over. Some did support the innovation highlighting major nuances in students’ study life and how it has revamped the experience using themselves as exemplary cases while an equal number of them disdained the project giving considerable points as to why and how it can compromise the comprehensive ability of a student whilst also imbibing laziness in the individual. These refutations were certainly encouraged and proved to meet the not so elusive objective of the discourse session, which was to consider these objections and produce a feasible and acquiescent conclusion. Of course, this conclusion was met after the hosts and all participants present had weighed both sides of the argument putting into consideration all points listed out.
Yes, ChatGPT can make a student lazy. Yes, it can discourage a student from exercising his/her cognitive skill. Yes, students can overly exploit the chatbot for projects they most likely can do on their own. But these possibilities are mostly dependent on the student, because in like manner, it can also improve the individual’s ability to assimilate teachings and comprehend various subject matters. That’s why our concluding thesis advises students and academicians of all denominations, to embrace tech and utilize it in ways they know will be beneficial to their cognition. We conclusively described ChatGPT with semblance to a coin, having great benefits on one side, and grave consequences on the other. It’s a portion of technology that cannot be completely discarded but should be appreciated, and at the same time should have limits and methods of control in the lives of students. The resource person, Mr. Ejodamen, took the baton higher by admonishing lecturers and teaching staff to trim down students’ dependence on the bot by restructuring their methods of students’ assessment and implementing strategies to checkmate undergraduates whose reports and project submissions are ‘AI generated’ and not ‘AI assisted’.
That marked the end of ADUN Library Conversation – a dialogue on topical issues for enlightenment and education purposes, with this session leaving readers of the report and viewers
of the recording some choices to make and questions to ask. Will you utilize this chatbot? Will you use it for your improvement or to your detriment? What are we going to experience in AI engineering in the near future? What other facet of technology is rising next? The latter are questions we cannot answer presently, but one thing is certain, we will innovate and we will find a way to embrace it, adopt it and utilize it.
Visit: The Digital Librarian’s Official YouTube Channel to
Share Your Images & Be Featured
Want to know the one thing that every successful digital marketer does first to ensure they get the biggest return on their marketing budget? It’s simple: goal-setting. This is an absolutely essential practice for any digital marketer who knows how to execute their campaigns in a productive, cost-effective way. With a few. With a few simple tips, you can be doing the same in no time! In this blog, we’ll walk you through the first steps every savvy digital marketer takes to ensure that they’re on target to hit all their marketing objectives. Get ready for revenue!
Remember: even if the channel you’re considering is all the rage right now, it might not fit your brand. Always make informed decisions that directly relate to your company. Otherwise, your message won’t be delivered to its intended audience and you’ll have wasted time, effort and money.
Know Your Digital Goals
The first step is clearly identifying which goals you want to achieve. Get specific. Do you want to increase brand awareness? Are you all about locking in leads? Do you want to establish a strong network of influencers that can help you be discovered? How about pushing engagement on social media?
Get Specific
A useful tool for narrowing down your goals to ensure they’re viable is the SMART mnemonic. It’s important to get specific to understand exactly what you’re working towards, and help you break down the process of hitting your targets. This is exactly what this mnemonic helps you to achieve.
- Does the channel reach my intended audience?
- Is the channel sustainable and affordable within my company’s marketing budget?
- Will I be able to measure the success of the channel?
- Does the channel allow me to express my brand’s intended message?
- Do the channels I’m considering work together to convey my message?
Always Remember Your Goals!
Establishing a solid vision for your business is the first step to planning your digital marketing budget. Always keep your final goals in sight when organising anything for your company. When deciding which steps to take next in your business, ask yourself how they will help you achieve the goals you outlined in Step #1. This will ensure that you stay on track and prevent you from spending your budget on anything that won’t help you achieve.
Cum et essent similique. Inani propriae menandri sed in. Pericula expetendis has no,
quo populo forensibus contentiones et, nibh error in per.Denis Robinson
As your budget progresses and evolves, continue referring to your SMART objectives. Stay focused and remember your goals – they will always inform what your next step will be!
AMAZING Natural Light Portraits in a Garage?
Want to know the one thing that every successful digital marketer does first to ensure they get the biggest return on their marketing budget? It’s simple: goal-setting. This is an absolutely essential practice for any digital marketer who knows how to execute their campaigns in a productive, cost-effective way. With a few. With a few simple tips, you can be doing the same in no time! In this blog, we’ll walk you through the first steps every savvy digital marketer takes to ensure that they’re on target to hit all their marketing objectives. Get ready for revenue!
Remember: even if the channel you’re considering is all the rage right now, it might not fit your brand. Always make informed decisions that directly relate to your company. Otherwise, your message won’t be delivered to its intended audience and you’ll have wasted time, effort and money.
Know Your Digital Goals
The first step is clearly identifying which goals you want to achieve. Get specific. Do you want to increase brand awareness? Are you all about locking in leads? Do you want to establish a strong network of influencers that can help you be discovered? How about pushing engagement on social media?
Get Specific
A useful tool for narrowing down your goals to ensure they’re viable is the SMART mnemonic. It’s important to get specific to understand exactly what you’re working towards, and help you break down the process of hitting your targets. This is exactly what this mnemonic helps you to achieve.
- Does the channel reach my intended audience?
- Is the channel sustainable and affordable within my company’s marketing budget?
- Will I be able to measure the success of the channel?
- Does the channel allow me to express my brand’s intended message?
- Do the channels I’m considering work together to convey my message?
Always Remember Your Goals!
Establishing a solid vision for your business is the first step to planning your digital marketing budget. Always keep your final goals in sight when organising anything for your company. When deciding which steps to take next in your business, ask yourself how they will help you achieve the goals you outlined in Step #1. This will ensure that you stay on track and prevent you from spending your budget on anything that won’t help you achieve.
Cum et essent similique. Inani propriae menandri sed in. Pericula expetendis has no,
quo populo forensibus contentiones et, nibh error in per.Denis Robinson
As your budget progresses and evolves, continue referring to your SMART objectives. Stay focused and remember your goals – they will always inform what your next step will be!
How to Shoot Photos that DEMAND Attention
Want to know the one thing that every successful digital marketer does first to ensure they get the biggest return on their marketing budget? It’s simple: goal-setting. This is an absolutely essential practice for any digital marketer who knows how to execute their campaigns in a productive, cost-effective way. With a few. With a few simple tips, you can be doing the same in no time! In this blog, we’ll walk you through the first steps every savvy digital marketer takes to ensure that they’re on target to hit all their marketing objectives. Get ready for revenue!
Remember: even if the channel you’re considering is all the rage right now, it might not fit your brand. Always make informed decisions that directly relate to your company. Otherwise, your message won’t be delivered to its intended audience and you’ll have wasted time, effort and money.
Know Your Digital Goals
The first step is clearly identifying which goals you want to achieve. Get specific. Do you want to increase brand awareness? Are you all about locking in leads? Do you want to establish a strong network of influencers that can help you be discovered? How about pushing engagement on social media?
Get Specific
A useful tool for narrowing down your goals to ensure they’re viable is the SMART mnemonic. It’s important to get specific to understand exactly what you’re working towards, and help you break down the process of hitting your targets. This is exactly what this mnemonic helps you to achieve.
- Does the channel reach my intended audience?
- Is the channel sustainable and affordable within my company’s marketing budget?
- Will I be able to measure the success of the channel?
- Does the channel allow me to express my brand’s intended message?
- Do the channels I’m considering work together to convey my message?
Always Remember Your Goals!
Establishing a solid vision for your business is the first step to planning your digital marketing budget. Always keep your final goals in sight when organising anything for your company. When deciding which steps to take next in your business, ask yourself how they will help you achieve the goals you outlined in Step #1. This will ensure that you stay on track and prevent you from spending your budget on anything that won’t help you achieve.
Cum et essent similique. Inani propriae menandri sed in. Pericula expetendis has no,
quo populo forensibus contentiones et, nibh error in per.Denis Robinson
As your budget progresses and evolves, continue referring to your SMART objectives. Stay focused and remember your goals – they will always inform what your next step will be!
Furniture Company Appoints Retail Heavyweight
Want to know the one thing that every successful digital marketer does first to ensure they get the biggest return on their marketing budget? It’s simple: goal-setting. This is an absolutely essential practice for any digital marketer who knows how to execute their campaigns in a productive, cost-effective way. With a few. With a few simple tips, you can be doing the same in no time! In this blog, we’ll walk you through the first steps every savvy digital marketer takes to ensure that they’re on target to hit all their marketing objectives. Get ready for revenue!
Remember: even if the channel you’re considering is all the rage right now, it might not fit your brand. Always make informed decisions that directly relate to your company. Otherwise, your message won’t be delivered to its intended audience and you’ll have wasted time, effort and money.
Know Your Digital Goals
The first step is clearly identifying which goals you want to achieve. Get specific. Do you want to increase brand awareness? Are you all about locking in leads? Do you want to establish a strong network of influencers that can help you be discovered? How about pushing engagement on social media?
Get Specific
A useful tool for narrowing down your goals to ensure they’re viable is the SMART mnemonic. It’s important to get specific to understand exactly what you’re working towards, and help you break down the process of hitting your targets. This is exactly what this mnemonic helps you to achieve.
- Does the channel reach my intended audience?
- Is the channel sustainable and affordable within my company’s marketing budget?
- Will I be able to measure the success of the channel?
- Does the channel allow me to express my brand’s intended message?
- Do the channels I’m considering work together to convey my message?
Always Remember Your Goals!
Establishing a solid vision for your business is the first step to planning your digital marketing budget. Always keep your final goals in sight when organising anything for your company. When deciding which steps to take next in your business, ask yourself how they will help you achieve the goals you outlined in Step #1. This will ensure that you stay on track and prevent you from spending your budget on anything that won’t help you achieve.
Cum et essent similique. Inani propriae menandri sed in. Pericula expetendis has no,
quo populo forensibus contentiones et, nibh error in per.Denis Robinson
As your budget progresses and evolves, continue referring to your SMART objectives. Stay focused and remember your goals – they will always inform what your next step will be!
ADUN VC CHARGES LIBRARIANS IN DELTA TO BE UNSTOPPABLE
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) successfully held her Conference/AGM as scheduled at Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN), Ibusa from 27th-29th October, 2021, with the theme- “Strong Libraries, Strong Societies. The conference was attended by over 150 participants from libraries within and outside the state as well as Library Schools.
#Day 1 commenced with a courtesy visit by the NLA enlarged EXCO team to the Vice-Chancellor and Management of the University. The NLA Delta Chairman, Dr. Nelson Edewor who led the team, appreciated the University Management for accepting to host the Association’s Conference. He further mentioned that the ambience of the University is indeed the ideal for academic endeavours and encouraged the Management to keep it up.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Paul Omojo Omaji thanked NLA Delta for the hosting choice of the University and pointed out that ADUN is a library friendly Institution therefore will always be supportive of the Association/Profession. He further stated that NLA should be proud of the University Librarian; Dr. G. N. Onyia and also, Mr. Sylvester Ebhonu for effectively representing the profession in the discharge of their duties. Prof. Omaji further expressed his disappointment with leaders of the Nation for the uncompleted state of the National Library at Abuja for over 2 decades. He emphasized that it is an embarrassment to the profession and the nation at large.
The activities for the day continued with the pre-conference workshop delivered by Mr. Sylvester Ebhonu on “Repackaging the Stereotyped Librarian: What to do.” This was followed with some paper presentations to close the Day. The University Librarian, Dr. (Mrs.) G.N. Onyia also took participants on a virtual tour of the library.
#Day 2 of the programmes was the opening ceremony of the conference. In his welcome address, the NLA Delta Chairman, Dr. Nelson Edewor charged librarians to think out of the box in the delivery of effective library and information service as we live in extra ordinary times that require extra ordinary measures. The keynote address was presented by the keynote speaker; Prof. Barr. Charles O. Omekwu with the theme “Understanding the Nexus Between Strong Libraries and Strong Societies.” He mentioned that the value of libraries is hardly appreciated in societies where poverty, hunger, etc is prevalent. He charged libraries to employ social media in the delivery of cutting edge library and information services. In his words “inspite of their potential abuses, social media platforms are vital tools to connect with library users in ways that are dynamic, timely, innovative, constant and continuous. Any proposal to gag or fetter the social media platforms must be stoutly refused, resisted and rejected.” He encouraged academic libraries to migrate their resources to cyber space and enable open access to their collections and services by the global user communities.
The VC of ADUN; Prof. Omaji while declaring the Conference open, charged librarians to be proud of the profession as they remain worthy partners in deepening the democratic space of the nation, thereby engendering development. He shared his own experience of how libraries have helped in transforming his life as a Teenager in secondary school and in the University. He stressed the need for an inclusive society and charged participants to become “unstoppable librarians” who will make the libraries strong with a view to making society strong. He used the opportunity of the occasion to announce a book written by his wife; a fellow Librarian; Mrs. Alice Omaji, which has been released on Amazon. Book Title: Leading Change for a Culturally Inclusive Australia: My Role as a Change Agent.”
Other activities carried out include paper presentations with panelist and conference participants making insightful contributions on several aspects of the theme of the conference. A major high-point of the Day was the presentation of trophies to 3 secondary schools in the state for coming out tops in the state-wide Readership Promotion Campaign. Finally, the day was wrapped up with a gala evening where Conference participants were treated to beautiful tunes in an informal setting. It also featured mini quiz as well as refreshments to unwind.
Day 3 of the programme was scheduled for the AGM, which was well attended. As part of the closing ceremony, the Registrar, Commodore Isaac M. Mankilik PhD. (Rtd.) presented a plaque on behalf of the Vice Chancellor to the Association. Thus ended the 2021 Annual Conference/AGM of the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Library Association.
