The Oleh Book Club has flagged off a book donation campaign for the Delta State Library, Oleh, Isoko South local government of Delta State, and neighbouring school libraries.
According to the club’s Coordinator, Anote Ajeluorou, the goal is to make books available to young and adult readers in Oleh and neighbouring communities, including Irri, Oyede, Aviara, Uzere, Olomoro, Igbide, Emede, Ozoro and Owhe.
“The campaign is in response to the pervasive book famine in the land, especially in local communities that lack both resources and facilities to provide same,” Ajeluorou said.
The Book Club had marked the 2021 Children’s Day on May 28 at Emore Grammar School, Oleh, with its inaugural book reading and conversation.
The well-attended event featured Ajeluorou, on-air personalities, Lady Ejiro Umukoro and Oghenero Ezaza, the librarian, Michael Iboh, poet, Princess Oghale Oweh, the schools’ vice principal and principal, Gladys Ighokpo and Anthony Edheka.
The books donation drive, Ajeluorou further explained, would sustain the momentum of the reading and ensure that the Oleh library becomes a hub for quality books in Isoko and neighbouring communities.
The author of the children’s book, ‘Igho Goes to Farm’ appealed to the Delta State Government to equip libraries across the state to meet the knowledge quest of Deltans.
He noted that with the government establishing three new state universities, providing and equipping local libraries with good books would complement the new universities and make the state a hub for quality education.
Ajeluorou, who commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa‘s strides in road construction, said it was time to build individuals with the requisite knowledge that education and libraries represent, adding that the multiplier effects of such investment for a state like Delta cannot be quantified.
The Coordinator, who lamented the deplorable state of Delta State Library, Ozoro, called on the state governor to deploy resources for its immediate rehabilitation.
He also revealed collection points for the books. They include Best Western Hotel, DBS Road, Asaba; the Oleh library on IDC Road, Oleh; Christian Tigbogbo Tailoring, 24 Okandeji Street, by Fada-Helie, Off Ometan Road, Warri; Narrative Landscape Press office, 9 Odunlami Street, by Bola Street, Anthony Village, Lagos, and 1 Sanyaolu Street, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Others are FRCN, Abuja, Flomat Books Ltd, A16 Cabanna, Sheraton Hotel, Ladi Kwali Street, Abuja, and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Abuja.
The first phase of the books donation initiative, Ajeluorou said, would last for three months before being reviewed. He added that those who cannot donate books for various reasons, including not knowing the right books to buy or where to buy good books, can contact Oleh Book Club to donate cash.
