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Report on the official hand over of donated books and computers to Government of Bayelsa State
By Francis Kabiowei Udisi and Gordon Abiama.
The education sector in Bayelsa State of Nigeria recently received a big boost when it finally took delivery of about 65,000 books and 400 computers donated by four humanitarian organizations based in the United States of America.He books which are mainly for tertiary institutions came in three 20ft ocean containers. A container of books were each donated by Project Hope, Books for Africa (BFA) and International Book Bank, all US based non-Governmental organizations dedicated to uplifting the living standards of the under-represented, the poor and vulnerable in our society. Atlantic Computers made the donations for the computers. Atlantic Computers is also a US based organization.
The coordination of the shipments of the donated items was coordinated in the US by Earth Rights Institute and in Nigeria by local NGO, Africa Center for Geoclassical Economics in cooperation with the state's Ministry of Finance.
Mr. Solomon Ebilade Apreala, the state's proactive, foresighted and a proactive Finance Commissioner whose Ministry coordinated the shipment here formerly handed over the items to His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief (Dr) D.S.P Alamieyeseigha (JP) in the capital city of the state, Yenagoa on August 26, 2004 accompanied by members of his executive council and the local television crew.
Mr. Solomon Apreala in his handover speech informed the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State how his ministry worked with the US based nonprofit organizations to donate these items to help boost the educational system in the state particularly the newly established Niger Delta University in the state adding that a window of more things to come from these organizations have been open.
Mr. Solomon Apreala also briefed the Governor of ongoing efforts to secure and ship to Bayelsa State government donated medical equipment and supplies along with establishment and provision of capacity-building from Project HOPE International as soon as possible to help improve primary healthcare delivery system in the state. Mr. Solomon Apreala, in light of the above facts made specific reference to the new 500-bed hospital under construction in the state capital by the government of Bayelsa State and initiatives for future collaborative partnerships assistance from Project HOPE International for furnishing, equipping and providing capacity building for the new hospital.
Responding, the Executive Governor, Chief D.S.P Alamieyeseigha expressed delight at the donated items and expressed his sincere appreciation to the organizations behind the donation particularly Project Hope which is the first organization to make such donations to the state, adding that this indeed has opened up a window of opportunities for Bayelsans to further benefit from his people-oriented policies from such well-meaning nonprofit organizations.
The Governor then instructed that all the items so far donated be handed over to the Education ministry to be responsible for the distribution of the items to various educational schools in the state to enable every deserving student to be appropriately be well provided and served with textbooks.
On the September 1, 2004, Mr. Solomon Apreala, the Finance Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Renner Tiebiri accompanied by some of its departmental Directors converged at the warehouse of the donated books and computers to officially perform the formal handing over ceremony.
Mr. Solomon Apreala in his handing over speech further explained that the collection of books consisted of different levels of educational learning and in various fields such as engineering, nursing, medicine, management, journalism, psychology, accounting and general genre, etc.
Hon. Commissioner Solomon Apreala said that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of the state was very highly impressed with these donation efforts during the later's visit to the warehouse to inspect the consignments, and where the Governor instructed that about 80% of the items be delivered to the Niger Delta University while a greater portion of the remaining should go to equip and beef up the state's general library.
In response, the Permanent Secretary of the state's Ministry of Education, Mr. Tiebiri thanked the Honorable Commissioner and the collaborating NGOs for their commendable efforts and assured that the State Ministry of Education would commence immediate action to distribute the items as instructed by the Governor and to ensure that they are all put to good and productive use.
http://www.earthrights.net/nigeria/bookdonations.html