AfLIA welcomes 2023-2025 Governing Council and first female president

28 MAY 2023

AfLIA welcomes 2023-2025 Governing Council and first female president at the 5th AfLIA Conference and 7th African Library Summit

The 5th AfLIA Conference and 7th African Library Summit held at the Erata Hotel in Accra- Ghana, marked a significant milestone for the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) as the organization inaugurated the 2023-2025 Governing Council and celebrated the election of their first female president, Professor Rosemary Shafack.

The conference, which coincided with AfLIA’s 10th anniversary, was held under the theme “Future of learning, libraries, and sustainable development in Africa.” The event provided a platform for professionals in the library and information field to discuss and shape the future of their profession on the African continent.

During the conference, the newly elected AfLIA Governing Council for the 2023-2025 term was introduced, accompanied by the executives of the various sections within AfLIA including National Libraries, Parliamentary Libraries, Academic Libraries, Special Libraries, Public and Community Libraries, National Library Associations, Academic Libraries, as well as Library Education and Training Institutions.

In her presidential address, Professor Rosemary Shafack expressed her gratitude and acknowledged the exemplary leadership of the previous AfLIA presidents, Dr. John Tsebe, Mandla Tombela, and Alhadji Alim Garga. She pledged to build upon their achievements and fulfill her duties to the best of her ability, guided by the vision of a strong and sustainable African library community.

President Shafack emphasized the pivotal role of libraries and information services in driving societal development, fostering equal opportunities, and providing access to lifelong learning, education, research, innovation, culture, and recreation. She underscored the importance of embracing digital advancements and positioning professional skills to meet the evolving information needs of the continent.

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The 2023 AfLIA Conference provided a platform for networking, sharing best practices, and advancing the collective goals of the African library and information sector. The event attracted professionals, scholars, and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, contributing to a vibrant exchange of ideas and strategies for the future of libraries in Africa.

AfLIA’s milestone of electing its first female president, and council members representative of all sub-regions in Africa aligns with its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, empowering women to play leadership roles in shaping the library and information landscape. The Association remains dedicated to promoting libraries as catalysts for sustainable development and equitable access to information and knowledge throughout Africa.

Below is the full list of the new leadership: 2023-2025 AfLIA Council Members

Name	Position	Country
Prof. Rosemary Shafack	President	Cameroon
Sarah Iyaloo Negumbo	Vice President	Namibia
Mr. Alim Garga	Immediate Past President	Cameroon
Dr. Helena Asamoah-Hassan	Executive Director	Ghana
Mr. Kepi Madumo	Chairperson: National Libraries Section	South Africa
Dr Mac-Anthony Cobblah	Chairperson:  Academic Libraries & Library Consortia Section	Ghana
Andrew Mankone	Chairperson: Parliamentary Libraries Section	Kenya
Lynn Jibril	Chairperson: National Library Association Section	Botswana
Antonneta Madziva	Chairperson: Public and Community Libraries Section	Zimbabwe
Dr. Sarah Kaddu	Chairperson: Library Education and Training Institutions (LETIS) Section	Uganda
Richard Fodjour	Chairperson: Special Libraries Section	Ghana
Velly Koumba Landry	Central Africa representative	Gabon
Eric Nelson Haumba	Eastern Africa representative	Uganda
Maha Abbas	North Africa representative	Egypt
Kepi Madumo	Southern Africa representative	South Africa
Mrs. Neemat Abdulrahim	West Africa representative	Nigeria
Sulemana Sogoba	French Speaking West Africa rep	Mali
Tendayi Madziga	Portuguese Speaking Africa rep	Mozambique
Doreen Appiah	Secretary (AfLIA Staff)	Ghana
	CO-OPTED MEMBER
Dr. Nem Osuigwe	Director of Human Capacity Development & Training	Nigeria