The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa hosted a three-day training program in Addis Ababa to equip African library professionals with artificial intelligence skills. The event brought together participants from universities, libraries, and the ECA.
Training Program Details
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) hosted a three-day training titled "Empowering African Libraries and Information Professionals for the AI Era." The event gathered participants from universities, libraries, and the ECA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Led by experts from Solent University and Dublin City University, the curriculum covers metadata and resource discovery, artificial intelligence and data literacy, user-centred library services, practical applications of AI, and planning for the future of library and information services.
Institutional Perspectives
Opening the training, ECA Director of Strategic Planning, Oversight and Results Division (SPORD) Said Adejumobi emphasized the importance of collaboration. He stated that institutional and diaspora collaboration is vital for Africa to tap into its knowledge base, compete globally, and accelerate its development agenda.
Getaneh Alemu, a systems and data librarian at Solent University, noted that the training highlights the ECA's commitment to building future-ready libraries that leverage emerging technologies. ECA Senior Librarian Solomon Weldetensay added that the program aims to help professionals harness AI responsibly and improve library services.
Key facts and where they come from
- The ECA hosted a three-day training titled "Empowering African Libraries and Information Professionals for the AI Era."
a three-day training on “Empowering African Libraries and Information Professionals for the AI Era,”
- Experts from Solent University and Dublin City University led the training.
Led by experts from Solent University and Dublin City University
- Said Adejumobi serves as the ECA's Director of Strategic Planning, Oversight and Results Division.
ECA's Director of Strategic Planning, Oversight and Results Division (SPORD), Said Adejumobi
