UNESCO REF President Concludes Strategic Working Visit to National Library of Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria. 28 September 2026
Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu – Oranmiyan, President of UNESCO REF, today paid a working visit to the National Library of Nigeria in Abuja. The visit was hosted by Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, and focused on finalizing modalities for a strategic partnership under the professional programme Anchored in Evidence: Digital Voices for a Stable Society.
This initiative, fully sponsored by UNESCO REF under its Educational Financial Facility Schemes (EFFS), is designed as a three-week comprehensive online training programme piloting with 600 young Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones. The programme will equip bloggers, digital content creators, and online journalists with the discipline of evidence-based digital communication, responsible national imaging, and the orientation to use the National Library of Nigeria as their primary source of empirical fact rather than relying on unverified social media trends.
During the working session, discussions with Prof. Anunobi covered:
• The partnership framework between UNESCO REF and the National Library of Nigeria.
• Modalities for identification, mobilisation, and enrolment of participants.
• The pilot region strategy for the initial cohort of 600 trainees.
• The media awareness plan to ensure visibility and credibility of the programme launch.
Prince Ladigbolu emphasized that the programme requires no financial commitment from the National Library of Nigeria, as it is fully funded by UNESCO REF. He noted that the collaboration will empower young Nigerians with critical digital skills while reinforcing the Library’s role as a trusted custodian of knowledge and facts in the digital age.
Prof. Anunobi welcomed the partnership, highlighting its alignment with the Library’s ongoing digital transformation agenda and its mission to serve as Nigeria’s foremost repository of credible information.
The working visit concluded with mutual agreement on the importance of institutional synergy in addressing misinformation and promoting a culture of responsible communication. The pilot cohort of 600 participants will serve as a model for future expansion, demonstrating the transformative impact of evidence-based digital voices on national stability.