BUILDING THE BRIDGE TO TOMORROW: A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE OF LIBRARIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WITH NIGERIA AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Librarianship in Nigeria, as it is recognized today, had a humble beginning in a land where the concept of libraries and written information was unfamiliar. Nigeria's historical roots lie in oral tradition, where the cultural legacy of the people was passed down through generations by elders who committed essential information to memory. The society itself served as the repository of knowledge, with cultural heritage expressed and disseminated through songs, folktales, and instruments like talking drums, such as the Ikoro. The demise of these human repositories represented a significant loss, as many did not manage to transmit their knowledge to the younger generation. This paper explores the transition from an oral tradition to the emergence of librarianship in Nigeria and the challenges posed by the loss of these invaluable sources of knowledge.