By Mercy Peter
The National Library of Nigeria (NLN) and the Qatar National Library (QNL) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in knowledge exchange, research, digital transformation, cultural heritage preservation and professional development.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Busan, South Korea, provides a formal framework for sustained collaboration between the two national institutions and is expected to deepen Nigeria-Qatar relations through cultural and knowledge diplomacy.
The MoU was signed by the National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, and the Executive Director of the Qatar National Library, Huism Tan, in the presence of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut.
The development was disclosed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Thursday.
According to the ministry, the partnership is the culmination of a series of engagements that began with a visit by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the Qatar National Library in Doha.
During the visit, the First Lady expressed admiration for the institution’s modern facilities and its approach to knowledge management, research and cultural preservation, while stressing the need for Nigeria to strengthen efforts to properly document and preserve its rich cultural and historical heritage for future generations.
The initiative was subsequently advanced through the intervention of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, who consolidated discussions on the proposed partnership and facilitated further engagement between the two institutions.
The minister had identified the proposed Qatar partnership as an opportunity to strengthen the National Library of Nigeria through technical cooperation, digital services, preservation initiatives, staff development and the deployment of innovative library technologies.
As part of the process, Alausa facilitated the visit of Prof. Anunobi and her team to the Qatar National Library, where Nigerian library professionals engaged their Qatari counterparts on modern approaches to national library management and services.
The engagement provided an avenue for knowledge-sharing on digital transformation, preservation and conservation, electronic resources, digital repositories, automation, smart library systems and public library services.
The ministry said the professional exchanges helped the Nigerian delegation gain practical insights into modern national library development while laying the foundation for a long-term institutional partnership.
With the signing of the MoU, the relationship now has a formal institutional framework.
The agreement provides for cooperation in scientific, technical and cultural fields, including the exchange of educational and research materials, publications and professional expertise.
It also creates opportunities for joint content development, collaborative programmes, cultural exchanges, public engagement initiatives and mutual promotion of projects undertaken by both institutions.
A major component of the partnership is expected to focus on digital preservation and the protection of cultural heritage.
Nigeria holds a vast body of historical and cultural materials, including manuscripts, publications, photographs, archival records and indigenous knowledge that constitute an important part of the country’s collective memory.
However, the preservation and accessibility of such resources increasingly depend on modern digitisation technologies, specialised expertise, sustainable digital repositories and effective conservation strategies.
The ministry said the Qatar National Library’s experience could therefore provide valuable opportunities for knowledge transfer as Nigeria continues efforts to modernise its national library services and strengthen the preservation of the country’s documentary heritage.
Beyond the traditional role of collecting and providing access to books, the partnership underscores the evolving role of national libraries as institutions responsible for preserving national memory, supporting research and education, expanding access to knowledge and safeguarding cultural identity.
Through the new framework, both institutions are expected to share expertise and develop programmes that respond to their respective national priorities.
The presence of Ambassador Daduut at the signing also gave the development a diplomatic dimension, underscoring the growing relevance of libraries as instruments of cultural and knowledge diplomacy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that professional exchanges, preservation of shared and distinctive heritage, and access to intellectual resources can provide enduring avenues for cooperation between countries beyond conventional diplomatic engagements.
The ministry described the development as the result of a progressive process that began with the First Lady’s visit to Doha, received ministerial backing, advanced through professional exchanges and culminated in the formal institutional agreement in Busan.
For Nigeria, the partnership is expected to support efforts to deepen international cooperation in digital transformation, cultural heritage preservation, research, technological innovation and professional development within the library sector.
For Qatar, it provides an expanded platform for engagement with Nigeria’s extensive intellectual and cultural heritage while creating opportunities for cooperation with one of Africa’s largest national library systems.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the agreement represents more than an institutional arrangement, describing it as a shared commitment to preserving knowledge and ensuring that the historical memory of both nations remains accessible to present and future generations.
The ministry said the journey from Doha to Busan demonstrated how diplomatic engagement, ministerial support and professional collaboration could translate an initial expression of interest into a structured partnership capable of producing tangible institutional outcomes.
