Shell Companies in Nigeria on Tuesday inaugurated an
ultra-modern public library worth N2.04bn to be managed by the Port Harcourt
Literary Society.
Inaugurating the library in Port Harcourt, the Managing
Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor,
said the library was accessible to all scholars and researchers.
The Shell Companies in Nigeria provided $5m while Port
Harcourt Literary Society invested $1.5m on the library.
Okunbor said the library was one out of three projects that
would cost Shell Companies in Nigeria N2bn each and which would be situated
across the Niger Delta to mark the nation’s centenary anniversary. He said,
“Our choice of centenary projects and this library is a demonstration of our
continued belief in the future of Nigeria and commitment to its socio-economic
development, especially in the Niger Delta. We are convinced that this library
will deliver significant benefits and positively impact the lives of people
while increasing access to knowledge and education in Rivers and Niger Delta. This
library will be a component of the Book Centre that will serve as the hub of
activities to promote access to information and economic growth through
education and literary arts.”
Okunbor said the library was the biggest and most
Information Technology-driven public library in the region, adding that the
library was established to promote reading culture.
He announced that Shell Companies in Nigeria staffers would
donate books to support the library while additional “staff time
post-inauguration” would also be provided for effective take-off of the
library.
Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Port Harcourt
Literary Society, Dr. Chidi Amuta, said the library was conceived to
commemorate the recognition of Port Harcourt by UNESCO as 2014 World Book
Capital. He also, said the Book Centre comprises of four structures including a
library; writers’ hostel, an event centre and exhibition hall and a theatre.
He said, “We live in uncertain times, and as such, the
attention of youths is torn violently between the forces of new information,
new modes of violence and the pull of new money. We believe that exposure to
noble ideas through medium of books and the printed word can point our youth in
a different direction away from ignorance and bestiality they see around them.”
Amuta said the library was equipped with digital facilities
and multimedia channels to engage the minds of adventurous youths in the
society.
He said the event centre and exhibition hall donated by the
Rivers Government was still undergoing construction while other structures that
make up the book centre were open to sponsorship.
Also speaking, Rivers Deputy Governor, Mrs Ipalibo Banigo,
said the state government was committed to build new schools, upgrade library
and other facilities at secondary schools in the state.
Banigo, who was represented by her aid, Ine Fubara, urged
students and researchers to take full advantage of the opportunity offered by
the library to improve their reading culture and researches.
Source: NAN
0 comments:
Post a Comment