fadehan

Dr (Mrs.) Olukemi Adebimpe Fadehan is a highly accomplished woman. As a librarian, she has had a distinguished career and made remarkable contributions to higher education in Nigeria.

She is the incumbent University Librarian at the famous University of Lagos. Before her appointment to that position, which makes her a principal officer of the institution, she was Deputy University Librarian at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife. Indeed, she is known and widely acknowledged to be a woman of excellence.

Olukemi was born to the family of Pa Adetokun Olayinka and Grace Olufemi Adegboye in Ibadan in November 1962. She attended Methodist High School Ilesa, Osun State where she obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1978. She proceeded to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for her General Certificate of Education (GCE ‘A’ Level) which she earned in 1980.

She later enrolled in the University of Ibadan and graduated with a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree in 1983. In 1986, she bagged the degree of Master of Library Studies (MLS) from the same university.

In the year 2006, her quest for the ultimate academic attainment reached fruition as she was conferred with Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), Library and Information Studies by the University of Ibadan.

Dr Olukemi Fadehan is a Certified Librarian of Nigeria (CLN). She also possesses a Proficiency Certificate in Computer Fundamentals from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile–Ife.

Her working life began in 1984 when as a National Youth Corps Member, she was deployed to Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation. There she worked as an announcer. She worked briefly under the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission as a teacher at Unity High School, Abeokuta.

From November 1987 to July, 1992, she worked in the library of Ogun State University, Ago – Iwoye, first as Librarian II and then, as Librarian I. On August 1, 1992, she joined the services of Obafemi Awolowo University as Senior Librarian. She eventually rose to become Deputy University Librarian of that great citadel of learning.

Came February 28, 2013 and it was time for this hard–working and high – flying Nigerian woman to fly higher. She was employed as University Librarian of the University of Lagos.

Her areas of service as a librarian have been extensive, covering many aspects of librarianship. She has worked as Gifts & Exchange Librarian, Serials Librarian, Reference Librarian, Africana Librarian, Deputy Librarian, Research Department and now, University Librarian. She has also taught Library Instruction Programme for over 24 years.

Dr Fadehan has a knack for multidisciplinary research approach to library and information studies with great emphasis on User Studies (Information Provision and Use). Her papers have enhanced the literature of library and information services with import for information needs, behaviour & packaging, gender, Information and Communication Technology, oral traditions, indigenous knowledge systems, university archives, leadership/management in library and information terrains, music librarianship, family education, political and religious issues.

Others include library instruction and students’ performance, grey literature, information quality & accessibility as well as bibliometrics & informatics. Of great importance is her contribution to the business information literature through her doctoral thesis on ‘Environmental Scanning’ (within the scope of Library & Information Studies) as a maiden effort in Nigeria.

Olukemi Fadehan has a lot of publications to her credit. She has attended many local and international conferences. She is a member of the Nigerian Library Association, the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Reference & User Services Association, the International Federation of Library Associations and the Society of Nigerian Archivists.

She has won awards and recognitions for her efforts in several areas. She received the Researchers Participation Award of the National Universities Commission in 2004. She received commendation for Mounting of Exhibition at the 45th Year Foundation Day of OAU, Ile – Ife in 2007. In 2008, she was declared as Best Library Worker in NIALS, University of Lagos. Remarkably, she is the first female University Librarian of the University of Lagos.

It is in recognition of her contribution to national development in the field of Librarianship that Dr (Mrs.) Olukemi Adebimpe Fadehan is deemed worthy to be conferred with the Development in Nigeria Merit Award.