CARRD donates books, journals to Al-Hikmah varsity
AS part of its contributions to the education sector, the Centre for African Research Resources and Development (CARRD) in the United Kingdom, in partnership with Student Aid Foundation (SAF), has donated books and international journals to Al-Hikmah University in Kwara State.
According to the organisation's Executive Director, Mr. Ajani Shakirudeen who spoke at the recent presentation ceremony, the donation was done through a collaborative effort to mobilise resources for the educational development of Nigerians pupils and students through the establishment of an education endowment fund.
Giving a background of SAF activities, he said that the need to establish the fund became imperative as a result of the high rate of poverty, destitution and pronounced failure rate among Nigerian students, "who, though willing to study, are being hindered by lack of funds, educational materials and encouragement occasioned by the economic meltdown in the country."
According to him, the focus of SAF is guided by the varied needs of the Nigerian students. The target audience of the agency, he revealed are tertiary, secondary, primary and pre-primary studies.
Considering the limited resources under the control of the management committee of the foundation, he said that its strategic direction was to set a priority, which would touch all segments of the educational sector with different levels of support in terms of funds allocation.
Aside sourcing funds from individuals, groups, charity based institutions and corporate bodies in Nigeria and abroad, he noted part of the foundation's objective is to make life easy for pupils and students by inspiring moral values.
He cited some of the projects financed by SAF funds as the Indigent Secondary Student Fund (ISSF), Postgraduate Programme Support (PPSF), Best Brain Competition, Best Brain Scholarship, Free educational products for students, SAF Awards for excellence in tertiary institutions and SAF Immortality Initiative.
"The choice of Al Hikmah University to be presented with these books and journals is a result of the position of the institution in Nigeria. The cooperation between CARRD, UK and SAF will go a long way to promote educational values and general improvement of human capital development," he added.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Deremi Abubakre described the donation as an epoch making event in the young university.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the university's management as beneficiaries of the educational support, he said that the provision of quality books and compact disc materials on various disciplines would go a long way to enhance teaching and learning in the institution.
His words: "At the Al-Hikmah University, we have greediness for books and other library materials. My over three decades of service at the University of Ilorin is dedicated to acquisition of library materials in various capacities. Our conviction here is that the culture can better be imbibed through provision of necessary library materials more important, since ours is a privately owned university where every parents expects value for their investment."
