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Gusau Institute donates 15,000 books to schools

By Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief
25 February 2016   |   1:50 am
GUSAU Institute founded by former Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd), has donated 15,000 volumes of books to tertiary institutions and secondary and primary schools in the country, saying that Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness relies on development in the education sector.
Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd). Photo; nigeriancurrent

Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd). Photo; nigeriancurrent

Ex-defence minister laments decline in education quality
GUSAU Institute founded by former Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd), has donated 15,000 volumes of books to tertiary institutions and secondary and primary schools in the country, saying that Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness relies on development in the education sector.

Gusau, who was represented by an expert in the education sector, Dr. Haroun Adamu, during the presentation ceremony of the books to the institutions and schools, at the Gusau Institute (GI) yesterday, said: “It is our hope that these 15,000 volumes we are distributing today will indeed strengthen your hands as educators to transform and change the students in your care so that they can advance Nigeria’s growth and global competitiveness.”

Quoting UNESCO statistics, which put Nigeria’s literacy rate at 59.6 per cent, it was argued that, “we have a large number of out-of-school children and young adults with limited literacy and numeracy skills who have little hope of ever joining the formal workforce.”

“The educational system suffers from deteriorating quality and insufficient investment to keep pace with the country’s growing school-age population.”

Among the 37 institutions which benefitted from the donation are, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State University (KASU), University of Jos, Federal University, Gusau, Kaduna Polytechnic, Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, Federal College of Education, Zaria and Federal College of Technical Education, Zamfara.

Others are Musa Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, Kaduna Public Library, College of Islamic Studies, Gusau, Zaria Academy; Secondary and Primary Schools.

Dr. Adamu explained that the growth in population has put immense pressure on Nigeria’s resources and has outstretched public services and infrastructure, pointing out that, “with children under 15 years of age accounting for about 45 per cent of the country’s population, the burden on education has become overwhelming.”

He added: “Gusau Institute would like to step in and lend a helping hand by distributing much needed books, even though the number might seem like a drop in the ocean. Our founder and patron, General Aliyu Gusau Mohammed, is probably known to most of you as a military officer, but not many people realise how far and deep his passion for written words.”

Adamu further stressed that Gusau’s passion for leaning and education resulted in the establishment of a research library at the Institute, “with approximately 22,000 volumes of books, journals and magazines and it is the biggest library in Nigeria.”

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