A Study of the Practice of Academic Mentorship in Nigerian Libraries: Prospects and Constraints

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Date
2010-12
Authors
Adewuyi, O.W
Nduka, S.C
Ojo, J.O
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University library, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Nigeria
Abstract
This paper investigates the practice of mentoring in Nigerian Libraries. The paper investigated academic mentoring as practiced in Nigerian libraries. The paper defines mentoring as the process of guiding the development of another person with specific reference to academic mentorship. Types and benefits of academic mentoring were discussed. Also, one hundred copies of a questionnaire were randomly administered on the delegates at the 2nd professional summit organized by the Nnamdi Azikwe Library, University of Nigeria, Nsukka between 3rd and 7th April 2010. The study found out that: Academic librarians in Nigeria desired academic mentorship in their quest for professional and academic growth; Male respondents offered themselves for mentoring more than their female counterparts; and academic mentoring is not popular among librarians in Nigerian University Libraries due to certain constraints such as poor leadership, sexual exploitation or harassment, work stress relating to actual workload, lack of institutionalized mentoring, and unwillingness of Librarians to share knowledge.The study recommends that Academic mentoring should be incorporated among Nigerian Academic Librarians, and that it should be incorporated as part of the library staff development programme; knowledge sharing should be encouraged among staff as this is one of the ways knowledge can be promoted and; Leaders in Nigerian Libraries should embrace their younger colleagues for mentoring as it is mostly found in the teaching faculties.
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To access the full text of this article, kindly contact the University Librarian- Dr. Olukemi Fadehan via the administrators: Dr. Yetunde Zaid (yzaid@unilag.edu.ng) or Dr. Christopher Okiki (cokiki@unilag.edu.ng) of the University of Lagos Library.
Keywords
Academic Mentoring , Nigeria , Libraries , Mentorship
Citation
Adewuyi, O.W, Nduka, S.C and Ojo, J.O (2010) A Study of the Practice of Academic Mentorship in Nigerian Libraries: Prospects and Constraints. A Journal of Library and Information Science (JOLIS) 7 (1&2)