NIGERIAN LIBRARIES IN PRE-COLONIAL ERA

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Date
2015-02-10
Authors
Bello, Nassir
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Abstract
The history of library development in Nigeria is causing great concern for those wanting to know the real or gift of it Librarians and historians writing about Nigeria particularly in the area of library scene tend to omit many important facts. Several authors writing about library history in Nigeria attempted to put the picture in the dark by writing only about library activity which started recently around 1920 or 1930. Many writers preferred to relate the history of library in Nigerian with the coming of the White man. This paper attempts to shed light to this distortion of history. It tries to show that libraries existed in some parts of the country particularly in the North before Nigeria itself became a geographical entity. At the turn of 18th century and early 19th century, libraries were well scattered throughout the North. At a stage Dan Fodio the founder of 19th century Sokoto empire had to cry out one time for the failure of return of his books borrowed. He considered it as bad habit for people to borrow books from Ulamai and fail to return them. By this, it is evidently clear that Dan Fodio's statement supported the belief that libraries were known in this part of the country as early as 18th century and before. The importance of libraries to a nation's economic and technological advancement cannot be over emphasized. Libraries play an enviable role in promoting educational advancement and in preserving cultural heritage of a nation. They help to give enlightenment and information to the citi2enry. Without any doubt, libraries are intellectual repositories of a nation.
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NIGERIAN,, LIBRARIES,, PRE-COLONIAL,, ERA,
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