YALLF 2023 Spotlight: Kelechi Maryann

Kelechi Maryann, a Senior Librarian at Imo State Polytechnic in Nigeria, describes her experience in the 2023 Young African Library Leaders Fellowship as more than just a training program. For Kelechi, it was a transformative professional journey that expanded both her skills and her vision for what a library can be.

Through the fellowship, she deepened her understanding of how libraries contribute to sustainable development, strengthened her digital literacy and storytelling capabilities, and refined her approach to library management and advocacy. The highlight of her YALLF experience was her capstone project, through which she established Reading Rangers groups for children in her community, creating a dedicated space where young people could develop a genuine love for reading.

The project sharpened her problem-solving skills, expanded her professional network, and gave her a lasting sense of achievement. Kelechi now carries forward the conviction that with the right skills and the right support, librarians are among the most powerful catalysts for social and educational change.