Impacts of Library & Laboratory

THE IMPACTS OF LIBRARY AND LABORATORY ON SCIENCES


Brethren, your proximity to something/someone does not mean that you can have access to it/him at any given time. On the other hand, being very far from a certain dream/aim doesn’t mean that you can’t actualize it at your proposed or anticipated time provided the required step(s) were properly taken.

Let’s have it this way; everyone was created for a finite purpose. And for one to actualize the purpose for which he/she was created, he must set his goal coupled with extreme pursuit towards the goal/aim. Above all, such pursuit must be accompanied with absolute carefulness. But have it in mind that no goal would be actualized without considering or encountering the required step(s) regardless of the amount of effort sacrificed. Interestingly, if proper steps are taken towards actualizing a certain dream, such dream/target would be obtained at the anticipated time irrespective of the length of the journey in question.

Someone called me few days ago to register her grievances in the Nigerian science sector. In her preamble, she told me that if care is not taken Nigeria might migrate from developing to underdeveloped nation. Honestly being a concerned citizen, I was touched by the preamble. Immediately I put my phone on recording mode so I can review the conversation at any convenient time. I pleaded with her to tell me what she was actually seeing that I was yet to see or observe. She proceeded by informing me that in her recent visit to some of the existing government colleges in her home State gushed out some amount of tears from her God-given eyes. At this point, the story became more shocking which prompted a sudden readjustment of my humble posture. She told me that the schools could hardly boast of a single science laboratory. Being a lady who was searching for an appropriate school to do her teaching practice; and she’s studying Chemistry in Education. According to her, the schools in question can be referred to as mere football fields. Due to this scenario, she became fade up and decided to travel to her native village to embark on farming rather than passing away her precious time in a glorious nursery school.

We are discussing the role of libraries and laboratories in scientific methodology. In many of my past editions on this column, I had categorically stated the enormous merit of science and technology in our respective societies. Brethren, science has really contributed tremendously towards the global socio-economic growth. I think without science, we ought to have remained blind. Yes before science was enhanced, the entire world was blind. Take for instance, imagining a society that is yet to embrace telecommunications and the media is just like visualizing an organization being kept under lock and key or in a solitary confinement. Let’s ride on!

The bed-rock of any scientific discovery or enhancement is the library. Yes, any reseach work must begin in the library. Having embraced the library, the next arena to be encountered by the scientist is the laboratory, or the workshop. There is no two ways about it. And these are the required steps in actualizing a certain scientific goal. These steps must be embraced to ensure adequate attainment of our desired or proposed scientific project. On this note, all hands must be on deck to ensure that the various libraries and laboratories in all the primary and secondary schools in Nigeria are revived by making them well equipped. Above all, the gesture should be extended to our institutions of higher learning. Apart from the science laboratories, well equipped workshops should be established in any higher institution that is offering engineering and/or environmental sciences. Of course the medical science students are meant to pass through a teaching hospital that is fully equipped to enable them acquire a thorough medical training.

The ongoing developmental stride in Nigeria which is becoming too sluggish should be attributed to the neglect in our science sector. The aforementioned sector requires total overhaul. And for this to be realized, we must wake up from this long lasted sleep. We shouldn’t continue to live in the past; fourty two (42) years of independence is not fourty two days. Let’s tell ourselves the truth and endeavour to sweep out these bunch of obstreperous elements constituting this economic mirage.

If I may ask, do we really want to embrace the promise-land? I think the only answer to the question should be nothing but “yes”. Even a day old child would still dance in that direction. Without being asked, we seriously need to embrace the promise-land because it’s our entitlement/inheritance. And for this to be actualized, we must stop deceiving ourselves. Believe me brethren, having mentioned murder/suicide as the most grievous sin on earth, deceit should be seen as the second most. Think about it!



FDN NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com