The Igwe of Onitsha, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, Wednesday, officially commissioned the Onitsha North Library, Imeobi Onitsha. The Library, located within the lush green, flowery precinct of the palace of the Obi of Onitsha was built by the Chairman of Onitsha North Local Government, Patrick Mba.
In his address, the Chairman described the facility as vital, especially in this period of Covid-19 pandemic.
He said it was imperative to provide such digital facility for children, readers, researchers and other categories of stakeholders, to enable them access and sustain the culture of reading and researching without difficulty.
The chairman disclosed that the Library was one of the human capital development projects of his administration, to support the royal father’s programme of re-inventing Onitsha to the path of reading and researching, for which the indigenes were well known.
He commended Governor Willie Obiano and Prof. Kate Omenugha, Commissioner for Education for lots of achievement in education, citing academic laurels won at local and international competitions and excellent results in national examinations, in addition to the first position won by Regina Pacis School, Onitsha at the world Technovation competition held in 2019 in United States of America.
He promised to ensure strict behavioral conduct of persons who come to access the facility, in line with dignifying and respectful civil ethics. He disclosed that security cameras are placed at strategic points to monitor users of the library and ensure security of people and property, adding that Onitsha North Local Government will work in synergy with the Imeobi security infrastructure to ensure effective use of the library.
The Obi of Onitsha, in his remarks, commended the chairman for investing in library facility for the community, adding that the project repositions Onitsha for reading and learning. He said that reading, learning and research were pivotal to knowledge, stating that knowledge is power.
He promised to donate more books to the library and announced that the whole building will be converted to library, whilst the ICT Centre will be relocated to the new complex under construction.
The commissioning ceremony was well attended by government, dignitaries and cross sections of the society.
