The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has entered into a landmark partnership with the Qatar National Library (QNL) to strengthen cooperation in knowledge exchange, research, digital transformation, cultural heritage preservation, professional development and public engagement.
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, National Library of Nigeria, Mr. Vershima Orvell-Dio, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the agreement was signed on 12 August 2026 on the sidelines of the 90th World Library and Information Congress (IFLA WLIC 2026) in Busan, South Korea, by the National Librarian/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, and the Executive Director of the Qatar National Library, Huism Tan, in the presence of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut.
The partnership provides a framework for cooperation in scientific, technical and cultural fields and will facilitate the exchange of knowledge, educational and research materials, publications and professional expertise.
Orvell-Dio said the partnership would also promote joint content development, collaborative programmes, cultural exchanges, public engagement initiatives and the mutual promotion of projects and activities of both national libraries.
Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, Prof. Anunobi described the agreement as a significant milestone in expanding Nigeria’s knowledge and cultural diplomacy beyond Africa.
She said the partnership would effectively create a bridge between West Africa and the Middle East, enabling both regions to share expertise, innovations and best practices in library and information services, while strengthening their capacity to preserve and promote their respective cultural heritage.
“With the signing of this agreement, both National Libraries are now set to exchange knowledge and expertise in digital transformation, preservation and conservation, electronic resources, digital repositories, automation, smart library systems and public library services,” Prof. Anunobi stated.
The National Librarian explained that the agreement was the culmination of engagements that began following the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the Qatar National Library in October 2025, as well as a subsequent visit by the National Library of Nigeria to Qatar earlier in 2026 at the instance of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
According to her, the engagements provided an opportunity for both institutions to move from discussions to concrete areas of technical collaboration.
“The visit provided us an opportunity to advance discussions with our Qatari counterpart towards strengthening Nigeria’s national library through technical collaboration, digital services, preservation, staff training and innovative technologies,” she said.
Prof. Anunobi described the signing as the culmination of sustained engagements between both institutions over the past year.
“The ceremony you just witnessed is the culmination of the earlier steps that have been ongoing for about one year now,” she added.
The partnership is expected to open new opportunities for capacity building and professional development for library and information professionals, while facilitating the adoption and exchange of innovative technologies and practices that can improve access to knowledge and information.
It will also support efforts to preserve, digitise and promote documentary heritage, enabling valuable Nigerian cultural and intellectual resources to reach wider audiences while benefiting from international expertise in digital preservation and access.
The agreement further underscores the National Library of Nigeria’s growing commitment to international partnerships as a strategic tool for repositioning the institution as a modern knowledge hub and a global gateway to Nigeria’s documentary heritage.
“Since the assumption of office of Prof. Anunobi in 2021, the National Library of Nigeria has intensified efforts towards the digital preservation of Nigeria’s cultural and documentary heritage and the expansion of access to these resources by Nigerians and the global community.
“In pursuit of this objective, the National Library has continued to build strategic partnerships with institutions in Nigeria and abroad, including the National Library of Bulgaria, to strengthen its digital transformation, preservation, professional capacity and international engagement.
“The Nigeria–Qatar partnership therefore represents another significant step in the National Library of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to connect Nigeria’s knowledge resources, professionals and cultural heritage with the wider world, while drawing on global expertise to build a more innovative, accessible and future-ready national library service,” the statement added.