Skip to main content

Shell inaugurates N2.04 bn library for students

Shell logo

Shell logo

Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) on Tuesday inaugurated an ultra-modern public library, worth 6.5 million dollar (N2.04 billion), to be managed by the Port Harcourt Literary Society.

Inaugurating the library in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr Osagie Okunbor, said the library was accessible to all scholars and researchers.

SCiN provided 5 million dollar while Port Harcourt Literary Society invested 1.5 million dollars on the library.

Okunbor said the library was one out of three projects that would cost SCiN N2 billion each and which would be situated across the Niger Delta to mark the nation’s centenary anniversary.

“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 establish to promote reading culture.

He announced that SCiN 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, Dr Chidi Amuta, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Port Harcourt Literary Society, said the library was conceived to commemorate the recognition of Port Harcourt by UNESCO as 2014 World Book Capital.

He said the Book Centre comprises of four structures including a library; writers’ hostel, an event centre and exhibition hall and a theatre.

“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.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...
Post a Comment
Read more