US -based Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Jewels of Africa on Thursday handed over 70,000 textbooks to the Oyo state government to enhance good and quality education in the state.
The organization, which is based in California, with an office in Ibadan donated books covering different subject areas such as Mathematics, English, English literature, Physics, Biology, Economics, Algebra, Chemistry amongst others.
Speaking during the official presentation which was held at the Commissioner’s car park, Agodi Secretariat, Mr. Deji Haastrup who represented the organization disclosed that Jewels of Africa made the donation to 6 states, which include, Oyo, Osun, Delta states.
Though a juvenile organization, Jewels of Africa saw Oyo state as being very important and as such included the state amongst the beneficiaries of its’ maiden shipment to Africa.
On the choice of the state, Mr. Haastrup said ‘’Oyo state has always been forward looking and has shown a lot of interest in education and having a large population, the government will have its hands full and as such needs collaboration with the private sector and non-governmental organizations since all hands ought to be on deck to ensure we give the government the needed support to build education which is the foundation of development in the society.
“Jewel of Africa is a young foundation and Oyo state is top on our list”, he said.
Receiving the gesture on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela commended the initiative of the Jewels of Africa, noting that people are alive to the policy of giving back to the system that produced them and this is shown by donation of blocks iof classrooms to schools, renovation of schools and donation of books.
The commissioner, however assured that the donated books would be shared to schools in the state with 70% going to schools in the rural areas.
