Uwazuruike Tasks Gov. Otti, Others On Development Of Libraries Through Donation Of Books

*Donates Books To Abia State Library

By Simeon Mpamugoh

Author and founder of Afritondo Media and Publishing, Dr Allwell Uwazuruike has enjoined the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti to pay attention to the collective development of libraries.
He added that public libraries play an important role in supporting education and literacy in the local communities by providing access to information and resources.
He spoke through his publicist Mr Simeon Mpamugoh during the donation of ten (10) copies of his latest book “The Dogs And The Baboons: Human Rights Revolution Nigeria Needs, ” to Abia State Library in Umuahia, the state capital.
While calling on other socially responsible organistions to do the same to assist in the promotion of reading culture among the young generation, and those aspiring to be writers in the State, Uwazuruike said that giving back to society was the plank upon which Afritondo was established.
He said. “Our organisation realises that it is generally acknowledged that access to appropriate reading and information is essential for political, educational, social and economic development. And libraries in Nigeria do not have the books and materials they required, due to financial constraints, which has raised some critical issues for collection development through books donation, and exchange contributions of books to the Nigerian reading public.
“We have been on the mission outside letters to philanthropy by lending a helping hand to the dearth of books in libraries in Africa. One of such missions is this donation of copies of the latest publication: to Abia State Library Board, Umuahia.”
A founder and also a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom, he said that Afritondo was set up to help Africans and black minority writers get a voice in the literary space through charitable contributions adding the organization is currently doing this with similar audiences that cut across Africa, Europe, and America.
He noted that the social responsibility initiatives of the organization got a boost with the launching in October 2019, of a $1000 short story prize competition for the best short fiction by an African writer, pointing out that over 400 writers from 19 countries entered the 2019 competition which was won by a South African, Jarred Thompson. The 2023 edition was won by Alex Kadiri, an Abuja-based writer.
“Also during COVID-19 in 2020, the organization awarded book contracts to young African writers to further promote and broaden the African literary scape. The initiative became necessary to provide the necessary resources to young writers who may not have the same opportunities as their Western counterparts. The period equally witnessed our organization’s equally commencement of monthly cash disbursements to indigent Nigerians via my Instagram and Facebook pages. The disbursements were to help relieve hardship amongst individuals and families most affected by the COVID-19 lockdown,” he said.
With the initiative in its third phase, it can boldly be said that it has directly impacted the lives of dozens of Nigerians as indicated by some of the stories of people who benefitted from the programme. “Our organization believes that there is an interlink between literature and philanthropy. The two are interlinked in that our sojourn into the literary world has an element of philanthropy around it. We desire to give a voice to talents that would otherwise not have had that opportunity so that they too can win prizes and share their stories with the rest of the world.
“We feel that some people lack basic things like food, others in the area of writing, lack the opportunities or a platform from which to launch themselves, but both of them are interconnected. We are not recreating any character of a book in combining scholarship with humanitarianism but a desire to promote the welfare of others.”
There is always a concern about uike on how he can contribute to society, especially to those that are most in need. In doing this, he doesn’t nece arily seek to imitate anyone or recreate a character but acti according to his conscience and principles. “I believe that if all of us can join hands and help the people around us,, then the world would be a much better place. While we were busy with our passion, Afritondo media and publishing was recently awarded the Brittle Paper’s 2022 Literary Platform of the year. The crown came to the outfit for fostering a space for African and Black literature with Initiatives such as the Afritondo Short Story Prize.”
While receiving the books, the State Librarian ,Mr Chimauche Ekeledo in an acknowledgment letter to the author signed by Uche C.A. thanked him for the kind gesture, promising to put the book into good use. “We look forward to receiving more gestures from you,” he enthused.
“The Dogs And The Baboons: Human Rights Revolution Nigeria Needs,” mirrors human rights from the perspectives of civil and political, and cultural and socio-economic
rights.