LIBRARIES AS CATALYSTS OF OPEN EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: UNLOCKING ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE Section Articles

Abstract

Open education has emerged globally as a transformative approach to widening access to knowledge,
promoting equity, and enhancing lifelong learning. In Nigeria, where educational inequality, high cost of
learning materials, and digital divides persist, libraries occupy a strategic position in advancing open
education initiatives. This paper examines the role of Nigerian libraries as catalysts open education,
focusing on their contributions to access, equity, open educational resources, information literacy, and
digital inclusion. Using a conceptual and contextual analysis grounded in the Nigerian educational and
library environment, the paper discusses policy frameworks, institutional practices, challenges, and
opportunities. It argues that libraries- academic, public, and special are central to unlocking access to
Knowledge in Nigeria and achieving national and global education goals. The paper concludes with
strategic recommendations for strengthening the roles of libraries in Nigeria open education ecosystem.