My work in UI gave me the basic solid foundation on which I built my career. I served as a cataloguer, reference librarian, Information Technology se… - Victoria Okojie

I saw the appointment as another challenge thrown at me! As such, I proceeded to prove myself, to re-invent myself and surpass my successes at previous assignments. As you may imagine, this position made me very popular as all librarians in Nigeria had to be registered and inducted by me before they could practice librarianship in Nigeria, as mandated by the Act that established the Council. As Registrar/CEO, I led the team that published the Code of Conduct and Ethics for Library and Information professionals in Nigeria; published minimum standards for public, government, school and academic libraries; reviewed the LIS curriculum in 2015, geo-located all public libraries in Nigeria and developed Benchmarks and Minimum Academic Standards for the LIS profession in Nigeria. I was also involved in accreditation of Library and Information Science Programme in many schools.

When I left the British Council in 2002, after ten years of excellent service with quantifiable results, I continued to rise and shine! I became interested in proving that librarians can do well outside working for government or anyone else just like other professionals such as medical doctors, engineers, accountant and architects (I love taking on challenges and risk-taking!). Therefore, I started a very successful consultancy firm with two former British Council colleagues. We consulted for the World Bank, the UK government (DfID), The British Council and many local organizations, including banks.

After about ten years, providence smiled on me again when I was appointed the Area Director of the British Council, Ibadan, the first Nigerian to be appointed as an Area Director. I was later informed by the British Council Director for West Africa who was head of the interview panel that my IT skills, my responses to questions, my comportment and my dress sense stood me out!