The National Librarian/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) Professor Chinwe V. Anunobi said Nigeria is still working in silos with regards to e-Governance and engendering access to information on public domain.
The nation, she said requires a united front and well-crafted intervention to ensure its citizenry have access to information.
The National librarian spoke at a roundtable discussion on Artificial Intelligence (AI), E-Governance and Access to Information organized by the National Committee on Information for All Programme (IFAP) in Nigeria in collaboration with Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to commemorate the Universal Access to Information Day ( 4th October, 2022) at Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy Conference room.
Anunobi who highlighted the implementation of AI, e-Governance and Access to information into governance as a major challenge of today’s world said the event brought together stakeholders in the information and technology sector in the country to brainstorm on the benefits and risks of incorporating all three factors into the Nigerian polity for a more informed citizenry and sustained development.
“There is a need for brainstorming on the provision of reliable access to print or electronic information, and use of AI within government, between governments at the international, national, state, municipal, local governments, the citizenry and businesses for sustainable national development,” and in addition, “take a position on international policies and guidelines for action on access to information and knowledge in knowledge-based societies.”
However, with information stakeholders working in isolation, she said such multilevel partnerships and collaborations with the capacity to strengthen access to information may never occur.
Nigeria, she said must first, appreciate itself and what it can do in the world of AI and information access as key essentials for effective e-Governance before embarking on intergovernmental and continental partnerships.
“This roundtable is timely as we will be exploring the major concepts of AI, e-Governance, and information which has the potential to accomplish overarching goals in advancing the current state of government services by way of minimizing time, cost whilst improving citizens satisfaction,” she said.
Addressing stakeholders at the event, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali I. Pantami projected a digital and paperless Nigeria by 2030.
His ministry, he said, has trained and retrained public and civil servants in various categories of e-Government services, and will continue until e-Government is implemented in Nigeria. “In a nutshell, we have recorded success in the training and have the projection that by 2030 Nigeria will operate paperless.
”The International Day for Universal Access to Information is marked annually on September 28. The 2022 edition held at Uzbekistan on the 28 -29th September, convened national committees of IFAP (UNESCO’s intergovernmental council established in 2001) from across the globe deliberate on how best to accomplish its’ objective – which is to promote and widen access to information in the public domain through the organization, digitization and preservation of information.
Nigeria’s IFAP membership comprises National Library of Nigeria, National Archives, Nigeria Library Association, Federal ministries of education, and information and culture; National Information and Technology Development Agency; Secretary, Senate Committee on Information, National Assembly; Secretary, House Committee on Information, National Assembly; National Communications Commission (NCC); UNESCO Office, Abuja; African Regional Center for Information Science and the Secretary General, National Commission for UNESCO.
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