Prof. Chinwe Anunobi Appointed As The National Librarian Of NLN

Encomium has continued to pour in for Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi who was recently appointed as the National Librarian/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria on September 8, 2021.

In a congratulatory message signed by its National Publicity Secretary (South), Wole Adedoyin, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) described Prof. Chinwe Anunobi as “a thorough bred Librarian and Information Expert with the requisite qualifications and vast experience in the profession.”

“With this development, ANA strongly believes that with Prof. Chinwe Anunobi at the helm of affairs, National Library of Nigeria will play significant roles in the promotion of reading culture and knowledge,” the organization pointed out.

The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mr. Camillus Ukah has also expressed the willingness of the biggest umbrella of authors in Africa to work with the new CEO as a strategic partner in promoting reading culture and uplifting the goals of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN).

Prior to her new appointment, Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi has served as the University Librarian, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. She is also a member of the Governing Council of African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) where she represents the entire West African region on the board of the organization. She took over from Prof. Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina who was the Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria from 2016 - 2021.

As an LIS practitioner at the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria, Prof. Anunobi pioneered the establishment of ICT unit, Electronic Thesis & Dissertation and the automation of the University Library. She also pioneered the establishment and development of Digital library as a Digital librarian of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria. As a lecturer in the polytechnics and universities, she is involved in the formation of young and budding LIS professionals especially in the area of ICT application in libraries. She is a key player in the National mentoring on the application of ICT in Library and information science operations and services.

She has supervised over fifteen masters and doctoral students. She is Associate of the Mortenson Center for International Library Program, University of Illinois, a certified trainee of United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) on Innovation Collaborative for Development, an e-Learning course on Social Media.

Prof Anunobi is a graduate of Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI) Israel. She has over 60 publications in national and international journals and contributed the chapter ‘Technology Librarian in a Developing Country’ in the book, A Day in the Life: Career Options in Library & Information Science and IFLA Publication 139; "Strategies for Regenerating the Information Professions".

Prof. Chinwe Anunobi is a chartered member of the Nigerian Library Association and IT Section of the Profession. She has attended and contributed to the organization of many national and international conferences and workshops. She is an active participant in IFLA conferences where she has presented many papers.

She is interested in networking, mentoring and research on the adoption of ICT in Library and Information Science as well as library users’ needs. She is an expert in digital library development and management, as well as Open Educational Resources.

Prof. Chinwe Anunobi is happily married to Mr. Sonny Anunobi and their marriage is blessed with four Children.