By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio has called for greater use of research in lawmaking and national development, urging lawmakers to establish facts and consider the consequences of proposed policies before making decisions.
Senator Akpabio made the call while declaring open the maiden Library Week of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Represented by Senate Minority Leader Abba Patrick Moro, Akpabio warned that a parliament that relies on assumptions rather than research risks making decisions without adequate evidence.
President of the Senate also urged universities and research institutions to develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges to help young people turn ideas into innovations and economic opportunities.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, hon Abass Tajudeen represented by, Hon. Olabode Olajumoke emphasised that short literary books could help children develop communication skills and understand human relationships, urging parents and adults to lead by example.
Hon Tajudeen also encouraged Nigerians to use libraries in their communities, regardless of their size, saying even a single book could offer an opportunity to learn.
The Chief Executive Officer, National Library of Nigeria Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, called on research institutions to focus on solving national problems rather than measuring success mainly by the number of academic publications.
She noted that Nigeria had educated people and numerous research publications but lacked effective systems to translate knowledge into practical solutions.
Professor Anunobi called for stronger collaboration among universities, research institutions, government agencies, industries and communities to ensure research findings address real-world challenges.
The National Librarian said researchers should engage communities, farmers and policymakers to understand their needs before developing solutions. ” There’s need for greater investment in indigenous knowledge and innovation to reduce dependence on foreign solutions”.
Also speaking the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, said libraries remained essential to legislative research, democratic governance and evidence-based policymaking.
Professor Sulaiman highlighted improvements in the institute’s library, including automated services and greater access to electronic information resources.
He urged researchers to verify information obtained online and through artificial intelligence, stressing that technology should not replace critical thinking, professional judgement and intellectual integrity.
Earlier, the Acting Director of NILDS Library, Dr Catherine Enattan Ikokoh, said libraries could help users identify credible sources and distinguish facts from misinformation.
The speakers called for stronger reading habits, research and innovation to support national development.
Edited by Julian Osamoto
