Hosting the 16th AHILA Conference in Ibadan, Nigeria: organization, achievements, challenges and lessons learnt

Abstract

Attending a scientific conference offers researchers several potential benefits including opportunity to present and receive constructive feedback from professional colleagues. Organizing such conference is also beneficial to the hosts who can acquire skills for coordination, communication and networking. However, the process is fraught with many challenges. One hundred and nine professionals attended the 16th AHILA conference from 22 countries in Africa, Europe and United States of America. The conference agenda was balanced, integrating skills acquisition, information for career development, sources of evidence-based free e-resources, including databases, and e-books for libraries covering health-related topics. This article describes achievement, challenges and lessons learnt in hosting the conference and could serve as a guide for health information professionals planning a similar conference in the future.

Strengthening health information librarianship in Africa through associations and partnerships: personal reflections in memory of Shane Godbolt

“…One of AHILA's goals is to increase Continuous Professional Development activities for its members and the information community at large through organisation of Biennial Congress. The AHILA congress is held every 2 years and brings together health information professionals to a forum that enables them to share and learn from one another (Ajuwon et al, 2020).…”