In the past, if you were looking for a quiet place to think, to dream, or to escape into the world of books, all you needed was a library card. From small towns to big cities, Nigeria once had public libraries that welcomed students, researchers, job seekers, and curious minds; for free or almost nothing.

But today, in 2025, those once vibrant centers of learning now sit in silence.

Once Upon a Library

There was a time when Nigerian libraries held prestige, purpose, and pride. The National Library of Nigeria, envisioned as the country’s apex library, was meant to be the beacon of knowledge and intellectual capital. In its early years, the library system was a bridge between rural children and city scholars.

In Kano, the Kano State Library Board was once a hub of intellectual activity for secondary school students. In Ibadan, the Oyo State Library Board regularly held reading competitions, book fairs, and research exhibitions. The Kenneth Dike Library at the University of Ibadan, named after Nigeria’s first indigenous university librarian, stood as one of Africa’s most well-organized knowledge centers.

Even the smaller towns had pride in their community libraries, where students paid just ₦10 or ₦20 for library cards that gave them access to shelves of books, newspapers, encyclopedias, and peace of mind.

But Now, in 2025

Many of these libraries are now shells of themselves. A visit to some state-owned libraries today reveals:

• Broken furniture and outdated books (some last updated in the 1980s),

• Leaking roofs, poor lighting, and no air-conditioning,

• No internet access; even though this is a digital age,

Lack of librarians and staff, many of whom are owed salaries,

And in some states, libraries have been shut down entirely or turned into storage spaces for government files.

The National Library’s permanent headquarters, which was started in 2006, remains unfinished nearly two decades later. Meanwhile, countries with fewer resources have built entire digital knowledge hubs.

Libraries are not just about books; they are about equal access to learning. In a country like Nigeria where many still cannot afford laptops or Wi-Fi, a good public library can mean the difference between failure and success for millions of young people.

At a time when WAEC and JAMB results show declining literacy and comprehension levels, it is tragic that we’ve let our libraries die slowly.

Instead of expanding access to 24/7 reading rooms, online databases, audio books, and mentorship programs, our education system is watching a crucial pillar collapse; quietly.

“I used to go to the library every day after school in 2004. Now, it’s locked. Even the roof has caved in.”— Abdullahi Musa, Suleja

“We used to get daily newspapers at the state library. Now the shelves are dusty and the windows are broken.”— Mrs. Ogundele, retired teacher in Osogbo

“There’s no point encouraging kids to read when there’s nowhere safe and free for them to go.”— Ngozi Umeh, youth volunteer in Enugu

National Library of Nigeria HQ, 10th Street, Central Business Dis, Abuja, Nigeria, Public Library, state Federal

That This Says About Our Country

The state of our libraries reflects the state of our national values. A society that doesn’t protect its books, won’t protect its students. A country that forgets its libraries will forget its future.

Neglecting libraries means:

• Poorer literacy rates,

• ⁠Fewer self-driven learners,

• ⁠Greater divide between the rich (who can afford digital tools) and the poor (who cannot),

And yet another signal that Nigeria isn’t serious about inclusive education.

What Can Be Done

Reviving Nigerian libraries doesn't require billions; it requires political will and creative investment. Here’s what we can start with:

1. Rehabilitate state libraries with solar power, internet access, and youth-friendly spaces.

2. ⁠Digitize collections and offer free e-learning centers for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB preparation.

3. ⁠Re-introduce mobile libraries to underserved communities.

4. ⁠Partner with NGOs, embassies, and private publishers to restock books and offer training.

In a time when the rest of the world is using libraries as co-working spaces, innovation hubs, and digital classrooms, Nigeria cannot afford to let its libraries die.

Let us return to the books. Let us restore our reading rooms. Because a nation that stops reading is a nation that stops growing.

Forgotten Fortresses of Knowledge: The State of Libraries in Nigeria (2025) (By Fatima Adamu)

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