Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina first came in contact with the LIS profession in 1969, when he was appointed a library assistant at the NISER Library, University of Ibadan. This was shortly after writing his GCE Advanced Level examinations. As a library assistant, his major task involved cutting and pasting newspaper items marked by the Chief Librarian on social and economic issues. This aroused his interest in information. As a young man of 19, he was highly informed about issues on Nigeria, not only on economic and social issues but sports, foreign affairs and education. He was a regular participant of a quiz programme on WNTV (Western Nigeria TV), Ibadan, where he won several prizes. Even though he read biology, chemistry and physics in his Advanced level programme, his interest in library and information science had already been sown. He intimated his Chief Librarian, about his interest in LIS and asked if there was an avenue for people with science background to join the profession. He was answered in the affirmative, that indeed the profession needed people with science background.

   In 1970, he was admitted to the University of Lagos, to pursue a degree programme in chemistry. He obtained B.Sc. Chemistry in 1974, and immediately served the mandatory one year national youth service in Abuja (now Suleija), North Western State (now Niger State). After completing his service in 1975, he was admitted to the University of Ibadan, Nigeria to read the postgraduate diploma in librarianship (PGDL), which he completed in June 1976. He was immediately appointed an assistant librarian at the University of Ibadan Library. He was cataloguer in charge of science materials. He was appointed a sublibrarian in 1978. He moved to the Department of Library Studies, University of Ibadan, in October 1978 as an assistant lecturer.

  Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina went for further studies in 1979 to pursue M.Phil. Information Science degree at the City University, London. He completed the degree in 1980. He enrolled for the PhD degree in Library Studies on parttime at the University of Ibadan in 1981. He obtained Ph.D degree in Library and Information Studies, specializing in agricultural information, in 1986. He was promoted Lecturer II in 1981, Lecturer 1 in 1983 and Senior Lecturer in 1986. He was involved in the training of students at the levels of Diploma in Library Studies, Masters in Library Studies and M.Phil/PhD Library Studies. He had an international spread of students who came from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Zimbabwe. All his past students in Ibadan are presently holding top positions in different libraries in their various countries, many of whom still communicate with him.

  Prof Aina left the University of Ibadan for the University of Botswana in 1989. He blossomed at the University of Botswana as there was an enabling environment to pursue scholarship. He nurtured the African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, while in Botswana but he made Nigeria the publishing base. He was involved in the training of students for various qualificationsCertificate in Library Studies, Certificate in School Librarianship, Certificate in Archives and Records Management, Diploma in Library Studies, Diploma in Archives and Records Management, Bachelor’s in Library and Information Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship (PGDL), Masters in Library and Information Science and PhD Library Studies. He was promoted Associate Professor in 1992 and Professor in 1998. His students in Botswana came from as many as 23 countries in AfricaAngola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Many of these students still communicate with Prof. Aina.

  Prof. Aina left the University of Botswana in 2007. While he was away from Nigeria for 18 years, he paid his NLA annual dues. He attended many NLA annual conferences. In 2006, Prof. Aina was honoured with Fellow of the Nigeria Library Association (FNLA). Prof. Aina joined the Federal University of Technology, Minna in January 2008, and served as Head of the Department of Library and Information Technology, Minna. He moved to the University of Ilorin in October 2008, where he currently serves as the Head of Department of Library and Information Science Prof. Aina has served as external examiner to 13 African universities. He has visited over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and America for professional activities.

  Prof Aina has published 55 journal articles, 6 books and10 chapters in books. He has also written 17 chapters in conference proceedings and 21 conference papers. From Prof. L. O. Aina's profile it can be seen that he has served at the various levels of the professionlibrary assistant, assistant librarian, sublibrarian, lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor and professor. He is thus in a position to serve diligently all the broad spectrum of LIS practitioners. It is not surprising that he is passionate about the profession. Give him your vote and he will take NLA to greater heights.

Thank you