Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina (born 20 December 1950) is a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professor ...

of Library and Information Science, and former National

Librarian A librarian is a person who works professionally in a library providing access to information, and sometimes social or technical programming, or instruction on information literacy to users. The role of the librarian has changed much over time ...

Chief Executive Officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especial ...

of the

National Library of Nigeria The National Library of Nigeria came into operation in the mid-1960s with the enactment of the National Library Act of 1964 which was later replaced by Act No. 29 of 1970. Prior to the passage of the National Library act, a series of educational ...

(NLN) Abuja.

Education

Professor Aina obtained a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the

University of Lagos The University of Lagos, popularly known as UNILAG, is a public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria and was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the first generation universities in Nigeria and is ranked among the top universities in th ...

, in 1974; a Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship, from the University of Ibadan, in 1976 and an M.Phil. Information Science, City University,

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

,1980. In 1986, he bagged PhD in Library Studies, from the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 1962 ...

Ibadan Ibadan (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano, with a total population of 3,649,000 as of 2021, and over 6 million people within its ...

Career

Aina began his

librarianship Library science (often termed library studies, bibliothecography, and library economy) is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and ...

career at the University of Ibadan Library between 1976–1978. Aina earned a Professor of Library and Information Science at the

University of Ilorin University of Ilorin, also known as Unilorin, is a federal government-owned university in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. It was established by a decree of the federal military government in August, 1975. The establishment aimed to implement one of ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

and the

University of Botswana The University of Botswana, popularly known as UB, was established in 1982 as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university has three campuses: one in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. T ...

respectively. In addition, Professor Aina is the Pioneer

Editor-in-Chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...

of the African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, the only library and information science journal in Africa covered by the World acclaimed Web of Science. His research interests span all areas of library and information science. This speaks of his versatility and grip on his chosen profession. * Professor of Library and Information Science,

, 2008 * Professor, Department of Library and Information Technology, Federal University of Technology,

Minna Minna is a city in Middle Belt Nigeria. It is the capital city of Niger State, one of Nigeria's 36 federal states. It consists of two major ethnic groups: the Gbagyi and the Nupe. History Archaeological evidence suggests settlement in t ...

, 2008 * Professor, Department of Library and Information Studies,

, 1998-2007 * Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Studies, University of Botswana, 1992-1998 * Senior Lecturer, Department of Library and Information Studies,

, 1989-1992. * Senior Lecturer, Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies,

, 1986-1989 * Lecturer 1, Department of Library Studies,

, 1983-1986 * Lecturer II, Department of Library Studies,

, 1981-1983 * Assistant Lecturer, Department of Library Studies,

, 1978-1981 * Sub librarian, University of Ibadan Library,

1977-1978. * Assistant Librarian, University of Ibadan Library,

1976-1977

Professional membership

Professor Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina is a member and fellow of the Nigerian Library Association; Member,

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...

and Member, Institute of Information Scientists.

Awards

Publications

* Aina, L. O. (2004). Library and information science text for Africa. Ibadan, Nigeria: Third World Information Services Limited. * Aina L.O. (2004). Research in Information Science: an African perspective. Ibadan. Sterling Horden. * World Library and Information Congress: 73RD IFLA GENERAL CONFERENCE AND COUNCIL 19–23 August 2007, Durban, South Africa http://www.ifla.org/iv/ifla73/index.htm * Aina, L.O. and I. M. Mabawonku (1997) The literature of the information profession in Anglophone Africa: characteristics, trends and future directions. Journal of Information Science, 23 (4) 321–326. * Aina, L. O., & Ajiferuke, I. S. Y. (2002). Research methodologies in information Sciences. Research in information sciences: An African perspective. Stirling-Horden. Ibadan. * Aina, L. O., & Mabawonku, I. M. (1996). Management of a scholarly journal in Africa: A success story. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIBRARY ARCHIVES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE, 6, 63-84. * Aina, L.O. The provision of agricultural information to farmers and extension officers: a catalyst in increased agricultural production in Africa. Unpublished paper, 1989. 6p. * Aina, L. O., Mutula, S. M., & Tiamiyu, M. A. (Eds.). (2008). Information and knowledge management in the digital age: concepts, technologies and African perspectives. Third World Information Services Limited. * Aina, L.O (2002). The literature of the information profession in Anglophone Africa: characteristics, trends and future directions. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 12(2) 167-172. * Aina, L. O. (2007, September). Appropriate curriculum for library and information science schools in Nigeria: the role of the Nigerian Library Association. In ''A paper presented at the conference of the Nigerian Library Association. Nigerian Library Association, Abuja, Nigeria''. * Aina, L. O. (2003, September). Strengthening information provision in Nigerian university libraries: The digital option. In ''41st Annual National Conference & AGM of the Nigerian Library Association at Tarker Foundation, Markurdi'' (pp. 7–12). * Aina, L.O.(2005,January). Towards an Ideal Library and Information Studies (LIS) Curriculum for Africa: Some Preliminary Thoughts. 165 – 185. * Tiamiyu, M. A., & Aina, L. O. (2008). Information and knowledge management in the digital society: An African perspective. ''LO Aina, SM Mutula and MA Tiamiyu, MA (eds.), Information and knowledge management in the digital age: Concepts, technologies and African perspectives'', 3-27. * Aina, L. O. (1989). Education and training of librarians for agricultural information work in Africa. ''IAALD Quarterly Bulletin'', ''34''(1), 23-26. * Aina, L.O. (1983). Access to scientific and technological information in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. Nigerian Libraries 19 (1-3): 35-41. * Aina, L.O. (1985) Availability of periodical titles cited in the literature of Nigeria's scientific research in Nigerian libraries. Nigerian libraries 21(1):23-27. * Aina, L.O., A.A. Alemna and Mabawonku, Iyabo (Eds.) (2005) Improving the Quality of Library and Information Science Journals in West Africa: Proceedings of the Stakeholders Conference, Sponsored by INASP 7–8 December 2005, Ibadan, Nigeria. Ibadan: Third World Information Services, 155p. * Aina , L. O. (2012a) Libraries: Facilitators of Knowledge Generation. Paper Presented at the Ghana Library Association 50th Anniversary Seminar, June 22, 2012 Accra, Ghana.

References