Entrepreneurship Training In Library and Information Science Education in Nigeria: Imperatives and Strategies

Abstract

Sustaining earlier calls by scholars for the expansion of the Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum, this paper advocates the integration of entrepreneurship training into LIS education programme in Nigeria. It argues that the nature of the traditional job market, which imposes limitations on access to jobs by LIS graduates, makes alternative job outlets imperative. Possible branch-out areas are publishing and printing, bookselling, information consultancy/brokerage, web designing and Internet service provision in cyber cafes, among others. Entrepreneurship training will prepare students to venture into these areas upon graduation and succeed. Besides, it will enhance the professional status of the library and information profession and boost efficiency in traditional library service delivery. Ways of domesticating entrepreneurship training in LIS education are suggested as follows; integration into the curriculum, collaboration with external experts, through the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), and through continuing education.