The National Assembly Library officially flagged off its annual Library Week 2026 on Monday, September 28, 2026, bringing together principal legislative leaders, diplomats, academic scholars, and regional delegates. Centered on the critical role of archival records in democratic governance, the opening day established a clear mandate: to safeguard Nigeria’s parliamentary heritage while building an institution capable of leading legislative research across Africa.
An Official Opening Dedicated to Parliamentary Continuity
The event was formally declared open by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Osita Ngwu. The opening proceedings established the central theme of the week—reinforcing that strong democratic institutions rely fundamentally on accessible, well-preserved institutional memory.
Setting the strategic vision for the institution, the Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library, Rt. Hon. Henry Nwawuba, highlighted the library’s role as a vital custodian of governance records:
“The National Assembly Library is a centre of knowledge, research, and preservation of legislative memory. Without institutional memory, each generation risks starting all over all the time. But, with preserved legislative memory, every administration will continue where the other stopped.”
Continental Ambitions and Global Standards
The opening day drew strong perspectives from regional and international partners committed to advancing legislative documentation.
- Pan-African Integration:
Ambassador Dapo Oyewole, Secretary-General of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), commended the foundational foresight of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, whose vision catalyzed the library’s establishment. Amb. Oyewole revealed that strategic initiatives are underway to connect and unite legislative libraries across the African continent to foster shared legal research and bilateral collaboration. - A Benchmark for Excellence:
Delivering a goodwill message, the German Ambassador to Nigeria expressed optimism regarding the rapid evolution of the institution, noting that the National Assembly Library is steadily positioning itself to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with leading global counterparts, such as the United States Library of Congress.
Panel Spotlight: Connecting Records, Legislation, and the People
A centerpiece of Day One was a high-level panel discussion themed “Parliamentary Memory: Connecting Records, Legislation, and the People.”
The session was moderated by the Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who also represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. In his remarks, Prof. Ihonvbere described the facility as the finest library in the country:
- Sustained Leadership & Vision: Prof. Ihonvbere extended gratitude to Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for conceptualizing and founding the modern complex, while thanking Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for sustaining unwavering institutional support for its programs and structural development. He also commended Rt. Hon. Henry Nwawuba for his proactive leadership as Executive Secretary.
- A Call to Lawmakers: Emphasizing capacity development, Prof. Ihonvbere urged legislators to actively cultivate a rigorous reading culture and regularly leverage the library’s research assets when drafting legislation.
Contributing to the panel, Prof. Solomon Gbenga Ibileye, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, proposed an institutional reform: empowering lawmakers to formally employ dedicated librarians and research professionals. Prof. Ibileye emphasized that embedding information specialists within legislative teams significantly enriches empirical research, policy analysis, and overall legislative output.
Looking Ahead
Day One set a purposeful agenda for the remainder of Library Week 2026. As activities continue, the National Assembly Library remains focused on bridging the past, present, and future of Nigerian jurisprudence—providing lawmakers, researchers, and citizens with access to the records that shape our democracy.
