President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi's tenure as chief executive of the National Library of Nigeria for another five years. The decision has divided opinion among key stakeholders in the sector.
Supporters see the move as beneficial for continuity. Shehu Mustapha, who heads the Coalition of Young Nigerian Librarians, praised the extension in a statement released Saturday.
According to Mustapha, it'll allow completion of the National Library Headquarters project. It will also enable implementation of the institution's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, he noted.
Anunobi has worked as CEO since 2021. During her tenure, she's championed major reforms across the library system.
Her achievements include launching the National Repository of Nigeria. She also developed the Newspaper and Magazine Locator tool for researchers.
Mustapha described her as a skilled administrator and proven reformer. He called for similar quality leadership across Nigeria's education and literary sectors.
Not everyone backs the tenure extension, however. Some stakeholders have expressed reservations about the decision.
Officials close to the presidency say the extension reflects confidence in Anunobi's performance. Her second five-year term is now expected to strengthen library services nationwide.
