Triggered by the resilience against academic redundancy prevalent in most remote areas in Nigeria, a practical approach towards the eradication of the norm has been set in motion by the Margaret Okoroagu Nwaneri Foundation (MONF).
Regardless, in pursuit for a better and improved education standard of the rural Children, the Foundation defied all odds in August 11, 2018 by floating the ANGELA NWANERI MEMORIAL LIBRARY duly championed through the Margaret Okoroagu Nwaneri Foundation (MONF).
This was in tandem with their avowed determination in ensuring that the poorest of the Children from AMIRI community enjoy the same privilege, skills and knowledge as in the case of their contemporaries from the average or wealthy homes, hence the establishment of the fully funded and furnished library.
The initiative was greeted with ecstasy by the natives for witnessing such a first ever sophisticated library sited in Mbubu, a village in Amiri in the Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria.
The gesture of a modern library by the Foundation in memory of the late teenage Angela Nwaneri whose life depicted good values expected of every girl-child was welcomed by all and sundry considering its gains to the intellectual growth of school boys and girls resident in AMIRI community.
Against the backdrop, the first book reading followed in 2019 after the official opening of the library with Pupils and Students drawn across respective Schools in Amiri, in attendance.
The first book reading with the title, “Humane Heart of Amaudara” written by Onyeuchie Ukenta, and published by Kurious K Agubom Publishers was a fascinating event at “Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library”. It was an awesome event.
Earlier in his review, Chief Ukenta described the “Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library” as a very conducive citadel of learning with a serene environment for learning.
He further hinted that the Library was not only equipped with all the necessary paraphernalia found in modern library abroad, but it also has an E-Library with uninterrupted internet facilities.
The first book reading and review was presented by Dr. Ikenna Agubom, an accomplished medical doctor, lecturer and public speaker. It was the first book reading that took place at “Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library”. The ceremony was massively attended by some dignitaries and as well many students from various schools across communities.
In the book “Humane Heart of Amaudara” by Onyeuchie Ukenta, coconut tree was used as a metaphor in depicting the rich African heritage.
Humane Heart of Amaudara is based on a true story from communities in the central part of South-Eastern Nigeria. A novel sparkling with love, action and piquancy.
It depicts the bonding power of family dinner and delicious desserts of folk stories, the jubilee of child-birth of the ancient, the unifying force of the beloved tree-member of the family and the way the new order is deeply rooted in the ancient world.
As if the gift of a library to the community alongside every other derivable benefits it entails were not enough, the Margaret Okoroagu Nwaneri Foundation also initiated the ANGELA NWANERI FELLOWSHIP which debuted August, 2023.
The objectives of the Angela Nwaneri Fellowship from all indications may not be divorced from further ways to consolidate on the goals of the E-Library.
Best participated students stand the chance of studying in a Varsity in the United States of America among other benefits.
In her assertion while fielding questions from a Journalist, the Coordinator of the Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library who also oversees the activities of the Margaret Okoroagu Nwaneri Foundation, a former Deputy Director at the National Library, Mrs. Christy Chika Ezurike, recalled that the essence of establishing the library was to enhance the information needs of Students and people in the AMIRI community.
To that end, she said the purpose since 2018 has been achieved and still growing.
Ezurike barred that the Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library was fully stocked with all Government approved Primary and Secondary Schools Curriculum in order to carry all Pupils/Students of different stages along.
She also added that not only that the place conducts paper lessons to schools, but also has an E-Library for online purposes.
While the agile Christy Ezurike enjoined Amiri natives to make good use of the opportunity of the library in getting their Children an improved learning skills, she led them to be thankful to Prof. Uchenna Nwaneri under whose initiatives the vision came to fruition.
Hear her “With the help of Prof Uchenna Nwaneri who established the place in memory of their late sister, we recruited teachers who give the Students intensive lectures and academic formation. They will have opportunities to sit for foreign tests and examinations like TOEFL,EITLS, and others. If the students do well, their benefactor, Prof is ready to take them along on sponsorship to abroad for studies”.
More so, Mrs. Ezurike charged the students not to take the opportunity for granted, rather should right all wrongs by being good ambassadors through the morals they acquire from their respective Schools and at the Library.
In a media parley, the Librarian, Bro. Chukwu Ogechukwu, expressed utmost gratitude to the brains behind the initiative for immortalizing Angela Nwaneri who passed away at the age of fifteen.
Ogechukwu opined that since the establishment of the Angela Nwaneri Memorial E-Library, both the students and their guardians have heaved sigh of relief considering how impactful the place has been to their wards.
He enthused that it was the first in the entire State where students are effectively prepared for external examination as well as equipped with the academic knowledge to help shape their wellbeing.
Speaking further, Ogechukwu admitted that the young scholars are taught major subjects every week Saturday comprising English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry among other subjects.
“The students are so happy and always eager to learn. As a matter of fact, every week Saturday is a special day for them because they utilise the opportunity of learning with computers, laptops and with the right textbooks.
“We usually have over sixty Pupils/Students every week for lesson. As the librarian, all I can say is that Prof. Uchenna Nwaneri and his siblings have sowed a great seed that would germinate for better in years to come”, said Ogechukwu.
The students were not left out as they had the fora to express their feelings towards the Library and the activities of the MONF.
Participating actively in the previous book readings, the 17 year-old Dimba Chinemerem Esther from Mbubu Amiri, a Student of St. Gregory’s College Amiri in Class 6 was optimistic of becoming a girl in whom the society would be proud of, just as the late Angela Nwaneri’s life was a case study to what a well trained girl-child should be.
Miss Esther revealed that she chose to be Science inclined with the hopes of becoming a Medical Doctor in future just like their benefactor, Dr. Uchenna Nwaneri.
She submitted that having learnt a lot from the Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library where there are taught up to ten subjects, she can beat her chest to say she is blessed to be part of the scholars.
“Angela Nwaneri is my role model. The teachers in my School are superb in teaching us effectively, but I must not fail to say that the Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library brought out the hidden potentials in me the more. I am so grateful to Dr. Uchenna Nwaneri, my prayers to him is that God will grant him all his heart desires”, Dimba Esther averred.
Giving further run down on the tenets and motives of establishing the library and Angela Nwaneri Fellowship, Prof. Dr. Uchenna Nwaneri explained thus,
“The Angela Nwaneri Memorial library was established in August, 2018 by the Margaret Okoroagu Nwaneri foundation (MONF) in memory of Angela Nwaneri who died in 1975 at the tender age of 15 years. Angela was a Diamond Child whose lifestyle is a perfect example of how the teenager should behave. She was an exemplary figure whose positive attributes are worthy of emulation by today’s youths. She was an inspiring figure for her friends and classmates. She was pushing them to pursue academic excellence and uphold high moral character. The Angela Nwaneri Memorial library was established to fulfill her Legacy of academic excellence in our youths by providing them with a center that helps them to increase their knowledge base and acquire skills to be outstanding citizens.
“The Angela Nwaneri Memorial library was the first e-library to be established in the Southeastern region of Nigeria. It has a digital collection of academic works and a reservoir of interactive learning and teaching tools for students and teachers .
“In furtherance of Angela’s Legacy of academic excellence and to encourage the best and brightest students in our community, the Angela Nwaneri Fellowship was inaugurated in August, 2023. The first cohort of the Angela Nwaneri fellows were chosen from the best students in Oru East local government area of Imo State. These Fellows are under the tutelage of Mrs. Christy Ezulike, a former director of National Library, Owerri. These group of Fellows will complete their first year of the program in August, 2024. They will be taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in September, 2024.
“The top performing students will have an opportunity to attend some of the best universities in United States of America.
“As part of the Education Series in the Angela Nwaneri Memorial Library, we initiated Book Reading to encourage literacy in our surrounding community. We held our first book reading on December 30, 2019. This featured the works of Chief Jude Ukenta and his Publisher, Mr. Kurious Agubom of Agubom Publishing house. We had more than 500 students in attendance. Also, the occasion was graced by the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Chiji Collins, and the Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri.
“Our second Angela Nwaneri Memorial library Book Reading was held on September 26th, 2020. This featured the work of Sir. Christopher Nwaka titled ” The Amazon of Amairi”. In attendance for this book reading was the Governor and First lady of Imo State ,His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma and Barr. Chioma Uzodinma. Also in attendance was the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku and his wife. Joining the Governor at this book reading were members of the American International Healthcare, Inc from the United States of America. These group of expatriates were led by Prof. Uchenna Nwaneri, President of University of Maryland Capital Region and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at School of Medicine, University of Maryland.
“Our third Book Reading was held on January 13, 2024. It featured the book on the autobiography of Angela Nwaneri, whom the library was named after. The book titled “Angela The Diamond Child” is a collection of works from Sir. Iky E. Nwaneri, The Chairman of Margaret Okoroagu Nwaneri (MONF) and Mrs. Scholastica Igweh, Chief Tony Ozuome Nwaneri and Prof. Uchenna R. Nwaneri. Our upcoming Book Reading will feature the work of Dr. Jane Egerton-Idehen, Director General of NIGCOMSAT”.
COMPILED BY:
ONYEKACHI EZE
(JOURNALIST)
08033988607
