The report that MTN, one of the preeminent mobile networks operating in Nigeria, has decided to withdraw the multi-million naira digital library it donated to an equally preeminent University of Lagos (UNILAG), is worrisome. Even more shocking is the trading of blames between the university and her donor, over who is responsible for the development. For a university that lays claim to excellence and for a telecommunications company that parades itself as a leader in the industry, we are surprised that such an important contribution to learning in Nigeria, has become a subject of controversy.
Mr Akinwale Goodluck, an MTN corporate social executive, said the telecommunications company was withdrawing the facility because UNILAG has failed to keep to an agreement in the memorandum of understanding it signed in 2004. On her part, the university countered that it has given MTN the go-ahead to remove the facility, as it has been unable to keep to sections of the agreement it reached with the institution. Following this disagreement, the state-of-the art digital library with the capacity to link-up the university with other centres of learning across the globe, has been under lock and key for five years.
At its commissioning in 2005, the library had 125 network computers, three laser jet printers, a VSAT-based internet connectivity, a server, 15 air conditioners and an alternative power generation source, which all ran efficiently in the first few years. With its link-up to other institutions, the university had access to varied reference books and research materials; 5,500 libraries, organisations, publishers of academic journals and scholarly works from across the world. At that commissioning, the Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Amina Oyagbola, was quoted to have said, “This library will support the assembly and creative use of up-to-date information at the click of a mouse”
Considering the enormous benefits of the library, we urge the university and MTN to find a common ground for the use and maintenance of the facility. The University of Lagos which prides itself as one of the leading centres of learning in Africa cannot acquiesce to the notion that it does not give a damn about such research-supporting library; or even the more noxious comment that it lacks the capacity to maintain such a high-tech facility. While the comments that governments in Nigeria lack maintenance culture may be true, it will be embarrassing if University of Lagos gives the impression that it has been afflicted by that reprehensible culture.
Before taking the decision to move the facility from the university, MTN should consider the wider implications of its action, particularly the perception of the public with regards to the company’s sense of social responsibility. For a company that has done so well in Nigeria, its robust balance sheet can maintain that facility for as long as it does business in Nigeria. This is not to say the university is right. At any rate, the debate over who is right or wrong is unhelpful. Even when MTN is threatening to re-locate the facility to Lagos State government, that act may not cure the backlash of such an action, since the state would rather prefer to gain its own facility, instead of being a second-hand beneficiary of one that was earmarked for another institution.
Even as there is a disagreement over the state-of-the art facility, we commend MTN for the initiative in the first place. That type of library should no doubt represent the primary interest of any developing country like Nigeria. Considering the enormity of costs, particularly the foreign exchange component, a library that gives researchers access to costly research materials, books and academic journals from across the world, should be a prime resource for any academic institution; and in our view should be treated with pride and care.
