The President of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Lawal Umar, FNLA, has reiterated the vital role of cataloguing, classification, and indexing as the cornerstone of effective librarianship. He was ably represented by Mr. Sylvester Ebhonu, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Association, who delivered the President’s goodwill message at the 45th Annual Seminar/Workshop of the Cataloguing, Classification and Indexing Section, held on 27th October, 2025 at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State.
In his address, Dr. Umar emphasized that cataloguing, classification, and indexing remain the essential pillars upon which all library services are built. He further highlighted that the precision and professionalism of cataloguers ensure the practical realization of S. R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science, which continue to serve as guiding principles for the profession.
Reflecting on the evolving information landscape, the NLA President observed that the 21st century presents both challenges and opportunities for library and information professionals and Librarians must evolve rapidly and aggressively. He urged cataloguers and classifiers to broaden their competencies by mastering advanced metadata management, linked data, and other emerging technologies that underpin modern information organization and access.
Dr. Umar reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to continuous professional development. In his words “ NLA under my stewardship is strongly committed to periodic but regular training and retraining of librarians in order to acquire new skills that will enable them remain competent, relevant and competitive in this modern era.”
He congratulated participants and commended the exevutives of the Cataloguing, Classification and Indexing Section led by Dr. R.O. Odunale for sustaining the spirit of knowledge sharing through its annual seminar/workshop.
Present at the event were Prof. S O. Uwaifo (Keynote Speaker), Dr. Nelson Edewor (LOC Chairman), cataloguing and classification experts, library administrators, researchers, and other dignitaries from across the country who gathered to deliberate on current trends, challenges, and best practices in knowledge organization and retrieval.
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