For every graduands who submit their final thesis, it is first seen as great relieve, especially considering the vigorous research activities and efforts that is put into such thesis. In addition, the completion of thesis usually gives a feeling of ecstasy and fulfillment to every students. As you would know, research work and submission of thesis is considered a very critical part of the requirement for the award of degrees in the tertiary institutions.

Therefore, it is sad if few years after graduation one finds treasured thesis at the stall of peanut sellers, or disposed in a trash bin like the case under consideration. It is very appalling how the research efforts of students are trashed in a bin of forgetfulness.

What becomes of these treasures abandoned in the incinerators? Does it mean such works have become useless and no longer relevant for future references? These are questions and many more are begging for answers. And I sincerely wish our school administrators can be called to question.

Thesis or projects in the waste bin

If the picture above are truly thesis of a tertiary institutions, then is very worrisome. As far as I know, students are not made to submit any electronic copies of their projects, therefore if they are trashed, that may be the end of such works. But the question is why would they even be trashed?

To be candid, how many rooms would store projects of an institution which, for instance was established, say 57 years ago? It sure would be inconvenient and unsafe to do, especially considering the unfriendly environmental conditions which most of  our libraries are subjected to!

Digital library is the way to go! A digital library is a special library with a collection of digital objects that can include text, visual material, audio material, video material, stored as electronic media formats (as opposed to print, or other media. ), along with means for organizing, storing, and retrieving the files and media contained in the library collection.

It is high time our insitutions started accepting and archiving electronic copies of thesis/projects and storing them in high capacity hard drives or better still in the cloud- these are better  ways to guarantee accessibility and preservation of such treasures. The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks. An electronic library is a type of information retrieval system.

Digital library is very important in preserving knowledge and research works and the tertiary institutions in Nigeria need to begin to adopt this method in order to preserve the intellectual works of scholars. Project students should be made to submit electronic or e-copies of their projects for the purpose of proper archiving.

Like I said in my article, “Winning attitude -transforming your struggles into success”, even when your efforts at success gets unrewarded, do not give in to discouragement, rather, use the faith lifeline. You are winning! Yes, we are winning!

GreatMark