As part of its contribution towards encouraging reading habit among university students, the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), has donated a set of books to the Department of Political and Administrative Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences. The books were part of the collection authored by seasoned technocrat and philanthropist, Mallam Mohammed Jimada, who is Registrar of NITT.
Receiving members of the team, last Wednesday in his office, Acting Head of Department, Dr Eme Ekekwe, expressed gratitude to Author of the books for the kind gesture, promising to deploy them for proper use amongst staff and students.
“I wish it was possible for authors of important works, especially those that go beyond the daily struggles we all face and point us to higher values would make such works available to our staff and students for their personal enrichment, because as we train in character and learning, it is works such as these that can contribute to the building of such character—especially amongst the youth. We appreciate this exemplary gesture and we are very grateful to the Author for sending representatives for the donation. It is our hope that this kind gesture would also contribute to national integration,” the Acting HOD said.
Dr Ekekwe promised to make the books available to members of staff and students as a way of encouraging them to read widely to know as much of the world around them as an essential part of their programme of personal enlightenment.
Leader of the team and Port Harcourt Liaison Officer of NITT, Mr Stanley Obiora, who stood in for the Author, said the donation which was a personal decision of the Registrar, Mallam Jimada, was aimed at encouraging the habit of motivating knowledgeable citizens to share their thoughts with society, especially students.
Mr Obiora said the NITT provides professional training in transportation and logistics, appealing to other like-minded bodies to also share their ideas and knowledge with people by documenting their experiences in book form. Disclosing plans to donate the books to other institutions, the Liaison Officer stated that UNIPORT is the first to benefit from such a donation, just as arrangements are afoot to establish an Office in Port Harcourt to coordinate the activities of the organization.
A check-list of books donated by Mallam Jimada included: A Trialogue On the Politico-Economic and Social Direction for Nigeria, The Inevitable and the Ultimate Purpose of Living as Humans and as Believers, The Answer to our History and Path to It, The Explanatory Note, The Path to Ummahood In Nigeria, The Complete Proceedings of Our Constitution Drawing Committee, A Letter to Ghazzali Muhammad and To the Philosopher King and Princes.
In his remark, the Director, Centre for Logistics and Transportation Studies, Professor Osi Akpogomeh, commended the NITT for the kind donation, promising to partner the Institute when the Centre becomes fully operational in Port Harcourt. Other members of the delegation were Godson Onoh and Caminus Ugwu.
