Draft:Umar Lawal

Umar Lawal (born 1974) is a Nigerian Librarian and the current Academy Librarian of the Nigeria Defence Academy. He is also the chairman of the Nigerian Library Association in Kaduna State.

Early life and education
Umar Lawal was Born on August 15, 1974, in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State. He attended Danga Gomo Model Primary School, Zuru, from 1982 to 1987 and advanced to Haliru Abdu Arabic Secondary School in Birnin Kebbi (now in Jega), and later to Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Memorial College, Sokoto, where he obtained his Junior Secondary School Leaving Certificate and Grade Two II Teacher Training Certificate respectively. In 1998, Lawal earned a Nigeria Certificate in Education from the Federal College of Education, Kontagora. He furthered his studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Library and Information Science in 2004. Lawal continued his academic pursuits, obtaining a Masters of Library Science in 2010 and a PhD in Library Science in 2014, both from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Career
Umar Lawal began his career journey as a Grade II teacher with the State Universal Basic Education Board in Kebbi State. He then transitioned to the National Library of Nigeria, Abuja, where he served as a Librarian II before being redeployed to the Ilorin Branch in Kwara State in 2006. Lawal joined the Department of Library & Information Science at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as a Graduate Assistant, where he taught until 2011. He subsequently became a lecturer in the same department at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina, and rose to the position of Head of the department. Umar Lawal has contributed to scholarly publications and He is also a Chartered Librarian, Additionally, he is a member of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) in Japan, and a Fellow Member of the Institute of Information Management Africa.

Works
Academic publications


 * Role of libraries and librarians in the promotion and realization of the goals of “change begins with me” campaign in Nigeria
 * Customer Retention Strategies for Information Services Delivery in University Libraries in North Western States of Nigeria
 * Adoption of risk management strategies in information resources and services provision in university libraries in northern states of Nigeria
 * Communication media for information service delivery in University libraries in North Western States of Nigeria
 * Managing Risk in Information Resources and Services Provision in University Libraries in Nigeria
 * Funding and financing electronic resources In Libraries in a digital age
 * Adopting a Pragmatic Approach to Rural Information Systems and Services Delivery for Sustainable Community Development in Nigeria
 * Access to online Arabic information resources by the Academics in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and Bayero University Kano
 * Exploring the Perception of Library and Information Science Programme among Undergraduates Students of Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, Katsina
 * Towards Strengthening and Enhancing Rural Information Systems and Services for Community Development in Nigeria: A Pragmatic Approach
 * Exploiting the Open Access Initiative (OAI) as a Strategy for Improving Library and Information Services Provision in a Recessed Economy
 * Agricultural Information Dissemination for Sustainable Animal Production to Livestock Farmers in Katsina State