Cheche Sky News: Valedictory Message: NLA Digital Communication Crew

Valedictory Message: NLA Digital Communication Crew -NDCC
(March 2017-September 2021)
– Dr. Ayodele John Alonge, Coordinator 2017-2021

September 25, 2021

Greetings everyone,

I appreciate every member of the defunct Nigerian Library Association (NLA) Digital Communication Crew for your enormous contribution to the success of the pioneer digital communication team of our great professional body. No doubt, the contribution of this crew is evident in the various activities and projects carried out since February 2017.

For record sake, the Digital communication Crew an initiative that I proposed to the NLA executive in January 2017. And the proposal received express approval from the NLA Council on March 28, 2017. The Nigeria Library Association Digital Communication Crew (NDCC)’s primary role is to create and maintain a strong online presence for the Nigerian Library Association (NLA).

The NDCC has the responsibility to manage all online communication platforms of the Nigeria Association (NLA) taking a directive from the National Executive which is represented by the PRO and the Secretary. This Crew is responsible for the management of the NLA Website, Blog, Facebook Page, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram.

The pioneer members include me, Ayodele John Alonge of the University of Ibadan; Helen Nneka Eke-Okpala of the UNN, Nzuka, Enugu State; David Oguche of NIIA, Abuja FCT; Sola Owolabi of Landmark University, Omu-Aran Kwara State; the Federal University of Technology, Minna Agwu Patrick Uzodimma of University of Ibadan, Ibadan; David Nzoputa Ofili, of and UNIBEN, Benin City; Kudirat Abiola - Abdullahi Fodiyo Library, Sokoto

The tasks of the crew are not limited to the following:

Manage NLA National Website
Oversee all NLA social media accounts and
Facilitate online conversations with librarians and respond to queries
Broadcast real-time updates at all NLA programs – workshop, conferences
Stay up-to-date with changes in all social platforms ensuring maximum effectiveness
Create engaging text, image, and video content
Design posts to sustain readers’ curiosity
Research audience preferences and discover current trends
Measure web traffic and monitor SEO
Develop an optimal posting schedule, considering web traffic and Librarians’ engagement metrics
Suggest new ways to engage old and young librarians, like promotions and competitions

What have we done?

Some of the achievements of the crew are listed below:

1) SOCIAL MEDIA

The social media platforms have been actively involved in disseminating information centered on librarianship, library advocacy, and library initiative. This can be visibly seen on our various social media handles. i.e. the Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn We have been able to appoint individual librarians under our unit who are conversant with social media to handle each of the social media pages for maximum efficiency. NLA Facebook with 6,044 likes and 6,339 follow.

2) NLA WEBSITE AND NLA BLOG: The Website has been very active under the management of David Ofili ww.nla.ng. The NLA Blog was launched in December 2017 at www.blog.nla.ng. It was put together to foster the spirit of constant communication and information exchange among members of society. The Blog is expected to be a rallying point for professional news, articles, adverts, opinions, among others for all members of the NLA.

3) Digital Presence at NLA Conferences: Since 2017, the crew has been very actively involved in the NLA conferences – digital Registration, videos, photograms, daily reporting. More particularly, the Crew successfully coordinated the hybrid NLA conference 2020 in Kano. Due to the convid19 retractions s and insecurity in Nigeria, the Conference was both onsite and online.

4) NLA Maiden Webinar: On August 18-19, the Crew was also championed the first national webinar of our great association with the theme Emerging Role Of Librarians During And Post Covid-19 Era. The 2-day webinar had e over 1000 participants in attendance.

5) NEW PLATFORMS

a. GOOGLE GROUP: In Ocotber2019, with the approval from the National executive, the Crew created and manage NLA Google group now have 596 members

b. TELEGRAM: On May 23, 2021, the National Executive approved the creation of the NLA National Telegram. The Official Telegram Group of the Nigerian Library Association.- for NLA Updates. The membership as at today 25th September is 629.

APPRECIATION

I give thanks to Almighty God for the wisdom and strength to coordinator the NLA Digital communication Crew from March 2017 to September 2021
I respect and thank Dr. Umunna Opara for believing in me by contacting me to submit a proposal that could enhance online communication of the Nigerian Library Association in December 2016.
The Dr. Umunna Opara-led executive and the council is well appreciated for the express approval given to our proposal that led to the establishment of this crew.
The Professor Innocent Isa Ekoja led executive is appreciated for the recognition givenn to this crew in the scheme of things in our professional body.
We would not have achieved this thus far without the support of the Public Relations officers Kingsley Egbukole (2015-2917 and Dr. Emiri Ogochukwu 2019 – to date.
We as well thank the NLA National Secretary for unflinching support since our appointment.
We appreciate our consultant, Mr. Samuel Eyitayo, his support behind the scene has brought us thus far.

“The quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your contribution. When you work to improve the lives of others, your life improves automatically.” – Kurek Ashley

There would not be NLA Digital Communication Crew (NDCC) today without vigorous members like David Ofili, Dr. Fatimah Jibril Abduldayan Sola Owolabi, Agwu Patrick Uzodimma, Victor Ejechi, Kudirat Abiola Biliamin O. Popoola, Ngozi Perpetua Osuchukwu, Ugoeze Adike (late), Damilare Oyedele, Olugbenga Oke, and George Osas Eromosele . We heavy heart we remember one of us, who suddenly left us for great beyond, Ugoeze Adike She was a very active member of the crew. She is greatly missed. May her gentle soul rest in Perfect Peace. I sincerely appreciate you all for giving your time, your resources, and your expertise to selflessly serve our highest Professional body, Nigerian Library Association, even without remuneration. We are not here for monetary gain. On record, some of us even spend our resources on data and transportations to serve on NDC Crew. On the other hand, we remember others members, who for the reason (s) best known to them, were lethargic throughout the period.

“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless,

but because they’re priceless.” – Sherry Anderson

In conclusion

We recognise that we may not have fulfilled all the set goals maximally because of some limitations detected and undetected. However, as of today September 25, 2021, God has permitted us to do our BEST to enhance and advance the digital communication system of the Nigerian Library Association, leaving the rest to those who are coming behind us. We hope they will build on the groundwork we have laid. Going beyond, with giant steps ahead of what we have done, will be our maximum satisfaction. We have the responsibility to transfer the management rights of all our social media platforms and website to the new set of people that will management NLA Digital presence by the time the executives have constituted the new team.

Some of us, in the course of our interactions here, have become friends and collaborators. This should and will not be the last of our interaction. We are all professional colleagues you know. Therefore, on this note, our WhatsApp platform created 12 November 2017 was closed permanently Sunday 26th September, 2021

Thank you
Estin Kalos - It is well...

Dr. Ayodele John Alonge, CLN
Coordinator NLA Digital Communication Crew -NDCC
(March 2017-September 2021)

______________Addendum____________

LETTER OF APPRECIATION TO THE NLA ONLINE COMMUNICATION CREW

I am directed by the President and the EXCO to express our profound appreciation for your services to the Association in the past four years. I wish to inform you that membership of the Crew was due for review/change last year (3years after its inauguration) but for the COVID-19 Pandemic and subsequent lockdown which made it impossible for any activity to take place. The Association hereby thanks all members of the Communication Crew and wish you all the very best in your future endeavors.Thank you once more and best wishes