Your Excellency,
With utmost respect and humility, I write to bring to your attention the deplorable state of the Okene Public Library — a once-vibrant center for learning and research that has now become a shadow of its former self.
In November 2022, I made a similar appeal to the state government, highlighting the urgent need for intervention. Unfortunately, the situation has since worsened. The Okene Public Library, which remains the only public reading and research center in Kogi Central, now houses mostly outdated and damaged books, covered in dust and neglect.
Your Excellency, I believe you are a true lover of education. In that same year, precisely on November 11, 2022, under the School Adoption and Mentorship Program led by the Hon. Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, you personally donated science textbooks that were distributed to schools across the state. That singular act demonstrated your deep commitment to improving learning standards and empowering students through access to quality educational materials.
Education in the 21st century has evolved beyond traditional reading; it is now driven by technology, digital learning, and information access. Most examinations today are computer-based, and our students cannot compete effectively without exposure to functional learning facilities. The foundation of academic excellence lies in access to knowledge, and a well-equipped library remains one of the most critical tools in achieving that goal.
I write on behalf of students, teachers, and researchers across Kogi Central to humbly request the renovation, modernization, and re-equipping of the Okene Public Library. This will not only serve schools but also the wider public, fostering literacy, research, and intellectual growth across the community.
Permit me to sincerely appreciate your administration’s continuous efforts in improving education from scholarships for indigent students to the rehabilitation of schools across the state. Your commitment to educational development has been commendable and deeply appreciated.
However, the need for a standard public library in Okene cannot be overstated. A well-equipped library will give students a safe and productive place to study during their free time, curbing idleness and promoting a healthy reading culture. With access to current textbooks, computers, and digital learning resources, our students will not only become more computer-literate but will also be able to compete favorably with their peers globally.
Furthermore, such an investment will greatly enhance the ongoing efforts of school managements to revive the reading culture among our youths. If the Okene Public Library is given a new face renovated, digitized, and equipped with modern materials it will undoubtedly become a model for other regions to emulate.
Your Excellency, we trust your commitment to education and development. We believe that under your leadership, this long-neglected facility can be transformed into a beacon of knowledge and opportunity for the entire Kogi Central.
Thank you for your continuous dedication to the progress of our state and its people.
Yours faithfully,
Umar Adabara Abduljelil
Education Advocate
Written from OSS Ukpogo, Checkpoint, Okene
08036415151
