IFLA aims to pinpoint unique, irreplaceable documentary heritage collections from individuals and communities that are of value to a region, but also… - Victoria Okojie

I have also been privileged to serve as Chair, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Africa Section and IFLA Division V (Africa, Oceania, Latin America, and the Caribbean); Member, IFLA Governing Board; Member, Governing Board, National Library of Nigeria and Adviser, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Libraries Programme, to name a few. I am currently one of the fourteen individuals appointed globally as a member of the International Advisory Committee of UNESCO Memory of the World from 2015 to date. I am also a Fellow of the US State Department, International Visitor Leadership Program; Fellow, UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning and Associate, IFLA International Leaders Programme. I have published over 30 peer-reviewed papers, attended over 200 conferences and received over 15 awards.

It was while we were busy proving this point that in 2009, I was appointed the pioneer Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, a position that is equal in status to that of a National Librarian. I remember with nostalgia that I had just returned to Nigeria after an IFLA workshop in Botswana when I switched on my telephone and the first call I received informed me that I should pick up my letter of appointment as Registrar/CEO! (how the letter went missing and re-appeared is also a story for another day).

Having seen all and having done all, as a practitioner, a lecturer and an independent consultant, my passions right now are advocating for library and information services issues, mentoring young librarians and promoting universal access to information. As a policy, I never see challenges; rather I always see opportunities in every situation. For me, it just gets bigger and better! You too can make it! All you need is to believe in yourself and go for it!