By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has approved the disbursement of N50 billion for the rehabilitation of the dilapidated national library project by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
This was disclosed in a statement on Monday in Abuja when the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) led by its President, Mr Innocent Ekoja, paid a working visit to the Ministry of Education.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Sonny Echono, while receiving the delegates, said the critical step being taken by the government was to reposition library services in the Nigerian education sector for effective service delivery.
Mr Echono recalled that work on the National Library has been stalled for years due to inadequate funding, adding that efforts to get the private sector to complete the project have not yielded results.
Speaking, the President of the Association, Mr Ekoja, expressed profound appreciation to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, maintaining that the completion of the library would bring honour and pride to all Nigerian librarians as well as provide the much-needed reservoir for Nigerian researchers, students, and the generality of the reading public.
The highlight of the one-day working visit was the investiture of the service award on the Permanent Secretary, the highest honour ever bestowed on a non-librarian by the association.
The President of the group revealed that the investiture on the Permanent Secretary was the seventh of its kind by the organisation in the last four decades.
On his part, Mr Echono said he was humbled and elated to be honoured by such a reputable association, stating that the award was a great privilege for him.
The Permanent Secretary dedicated the prestigious award to the Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, and the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba.
Dipo Olowookere