Professor Olatokunbo Okiki Assumes Office as University Librarian

Professor Olatokunbo Christopher Okiki has formally taken office as the University Librarian of the University of Lagos.

He assumed duty at 8’o clock in the morning of Friday, March 14, 2025 and was ushered in with songs by staff of the University Library alongside well-wishers.

A retired Pastor of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Elijah Olubola, led the prayer session. He congratulated Professor Okiki on his new appointment and charged him to use his new position to the glory of God and for the advancement of the University of Lagos as a whole.

The Chaplain, Chapel of Christ our Light, Rev. (Dr) Azuka Ogbolumani, was also on ground to give his blessings. He encouraged the University Librarian to be courageous and forthright in the discharge of his duties.

A highlight of the morning was a presentation made by students of the Library and Information Science programme to Professor Okiki in felicitation with him on his appointment.

The new University Librarian expressed gratitude to everyone who turned up to welcome him to office and promised to do his best in office.

The Governing Council of the University of Lagos, at its meeting on Friday, December 6, 2024, confirmed the appointment of Professor Olatokunbo Christopher Okiki as University Librarian for a tenure of five (5) years, with effect from Friday, March 14, 2025.

Professor Olatokunbo Christopher Okiki is a distinguished Librarian and Researcher with over two decades of experience in Library services. His expertise spans Information Literacy Skills, Information Resource Management, ICT Deployment, Data Management, and Indigenous Knowledge. With a career dedicated to advancing knowledge management, digital library innovations, and academic excellence, his work has significantly influenced the integration of technology into library systems, the development of information literacy, and the promotion of open educational resources.

He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of Ibadan, where he had also completed his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees. He is a Scopus-Certified Librarian (Elsevier, 2020) and a Certified Librarian of Nigeria (LRCN, 2011), He has, to his credit, numerous publications in both international and national journals alongside active participation in research projects and academic conferences.

Before his appointment as University Librarian, Prof. Okiki served as the pioneer Coordinator of the Library and Information Science Programme in the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social Science. Prior to this, he led the Automation Unit of the university library, where he spearheaded the democratization and deployment of ICT facilities and resources, and managed institutional repositories that enhanced research accessibility. His expertise in digital librarianship and emerging technologies has positioned him as a pivotal figure in transforming how the library serves academic communities.

Beyond research and academia, Prof. Okiki has held several leadership roles within the University of Lagos. As a two-term member of the University Senate, he contributes to institutional policy-making and academic governance. He has chaired the Library Standing Committee on Information Technology and served as representative of the University Librarian on the board of the University of Lagos Distance Learning institute for a decade. He has served on the University Library Management Committee, where he played a key role in shaping digital library strategies. He is a member of the Environmental Evidence Synthesis and Knowledge Translation (EESKT), a research group affiliated with the TETFUND Centre of Excellence on Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management (TCEBCEM), University of Lagos. His research involvement includes co-leading significant projects, such as the AFIDEP-funded environmental evidence portal initiative and a multi-year CRC research grant on research administration in Nigerian universities.

He is an active member of esteemed organisations, including the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the Society of Digital Information and Wireless Communications (SDIWC), and the International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology (IASSIST). His contributions to community service include consulting for libraries and playing a key role in establishing the Foursquare Gospel Church National Headquarters Library. As a Council Member and Head of Mission & Evangelism at Foursquare Gospel Church, NHQ, he merges his expertise in information dissemination with his passion for spiritual and societal transformation.

Professor Olatokunbo Christopher Okiki hails from Ilaje, Ondo State, Nigeria,

Report: Isaiah Kumuyi

Photography: Joshua Michael