PROFESSOR Grace Alele Williams, former Vice-Chancellor University of Benin, has stated that for our children to compete favorably in their academic pursuit globally, e-library must be brought to the fore in every community to broaden their horizon.
From right: Mrs. Olugbemiga Benson, Chairman Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Sheriff Anipole and pioneer governor of Lagos state Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson at the foundation laying ceremony of Ikorodu Community e-library.
From right: Mrs. Olugbemiga Benson, Chairman Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Sheriff Anipole and pioneer governor of Lagos state Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson at the foundation laying ceremony of Ikorodu Community e-library.
Alele Williams who is currently the Chairman Governing Board of City Profs Education Foundation told attendees at the inauguration of Ikorodu Community e-library that library initiatives are beneficial to all because; ”If our children are to compete globally, we have to build a library that will benefit the children most.”
Speaking through Seun Fakoya, Alele-Williams asserted that Nigeria has a good number of primary schools but e-libraries are long overdue in this country.
Citing a city like New York with about five bureaus, Alele-Williams pointed out that because of the priority placed on education, it has about 9,000 libraries, equipped to boost students’ knowledge.
She said, “What we have started at Bariga and Ikorodu is the seventh of its kind in Nigeria because as people we have a role to play.”
According to her, in the United States of America, as far back as 1888, Edward Carnegie started building libraries and his fortune worth 400 million dollars was used to build libraries across the globe.
“I think more people should emulate Carnegie because when you nurture people’s mind through education you are developing a nation.” she said.
Laying the foundation stone of the 7th e-library at Ikorodu by the CPA, its Grand Patron and the Pioneer Governor of Lagos State Brig. Gen. (rtd) Mobolaji Johnson said, “The City Profs Academy Community Library Initiative (CPA-CLI) is a Public Private Partnership Initiative established to build and equip Community Libraries and ICT in the nation’s public education system.”
According to him, the catchment area of the library would be limited to locations within walking distance of different schools thereby increasing convenience of visiting the library for after school programs at for no additional transport cost.
Stressing the importance of libraries, Mobolaji noted that apart from raising the reading culture of the people most especially young school children, the foundation believes that education no doubt broadens one’s horizon as nurtured minds will affect a nation’s development.
The whole project had come under the supervision and guidance of CPA-CLI ably led by stalwarts such as Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, Prof. Alele Wiliilams, former interim president Dr. Ernest Shonekan, Mrs. Remi Agbowu, Mrs. Essie Kukoyi-the founder of CPA and other committed members of staff of the foundation.“
Laudable project
In his speech, special adviser to governor Fashola (SAN) on education, Fatai Olukoga, congratulated the students and expressed his gratitude to the organisaation for bringing such a laudable project. According to him, putting up such project would go a long way in assisting the children greatly.
“Government is doing its best but it cannot do it alone. That is why we need help from private individuals and organisations. This edifice when completed will not only serve the students alone but the entire community”. Olukoga who advised the students to guard the building jealously when completed, stressing that getting involved in advanced fraud should be out of their minds while he implored the building committee to not only monitor the building to completion but ensure that it is well kept to serve its purpose.
In his remarks, executive secretary of Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Sheriff Anipole praised the foundation for its thoughtfulness, vision, commitment and selflessness, which has led to a lot of landmark achievements by the promising foundation in the entire state and beyond. He also commended them for their knack for education and knowledge, which is the bedrock of meaningful development and enduring advancement.
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