THE CHANGING WORLD OF INFORMATION AND THE NEED FOR INFOPRENEURSHIP PRACTICE BY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS IN 21st CENTURY NIGERIA

Abstract

The population growth rate in Nigeria has constantly been outpacing output expansion, leading to some macroeconomic challenges that are bedevilling the country at present. The situation above has led to the number of people seeking formal job avenues becoming acute. However, the advent of the internet has facilitated tremendous transformations in our societies on virtually all fronts of human struggle. It has no doubt, fast-tracked the generation and distribution of information and knowledge for the advancement of humanity at a very massive scale. It is in consideration of the above that this paper used a desk research approach to highlight the need for library and information science (LIS) professionals to engage in a web of information-related practices activities that would make them have additional streams of income through infopreneurship practice. In the process, the concept of infopreneurship was explored; some areas of infopreneurship practice in Nigeria were highlighted; who the LIS Professionals are was explained; the LIS Professionals in the 21st-century era was analyzed and the need for infopreneurship practice by the LIS Professionals in Nigeria was discussed. However, the paper concluded with a recommendation for the LIS curriculum to be revamped to address the changing demands of the LIS profession in a 21stcentury world of information amongst others.