Juliana Taiwo
3 November 2009
Abuja — The Brig. Gen. Solomon Giwa Amu Foundation has donated 475 textbooks worth N2.5 million, which cover an array of disciplines (Strategic/-Contem-porary Military Leadership, Conflict Resolution and Foreign Policy) to the National Defence College Library, Abuja.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the Chairman, Egbert Imomoh said the foundation, which was established in 2008 in memory of Late Giwa Amu, was a youth-focused, non-profit organisation and that the donation was part of the activities lined up to mark what would have been his 50th birthday on November 2, 2009.
Other activities already carried out within the one year of its existence include medical intervention for 44 patients, in Ora by a team of medical surgeons from the United States, worth N2 million. A four-week skills acquisition programme for 50 children in Camp Mogadishu at the cost of N1 million, while outstanding ones were rewarded with tools of their trade and start-up capital.
The event was concluded on Monday November 2, with an awareness lectures/livelihood skills talks and award of scholarships to 53 selected primary and secondary school students in Sabon-gidda Ora, the late Amu's home town.
Amu's widow, Mrs. Judy Giwa Amu, said the books donated were bought by her late husband, who had the ambition of teaching in the college someday. She said the gesture would be extended to civilian libraries, in a bid to keep the vision of her late husband alive.
She also called on other individuals and organisations to emulate her late husband, who encouraged giving back to the institutions that made you. "Solomon always used to say 'if you give a ball to the institution that made you, you would have created another Jay Jay Okocha or a computer you would have created another Bill Gate'.
Responding, Commandant of the college, Rear Admiral John Jonah, expressed the College's gratitude to the foundation for fulfilling its part of the Amu's vision.
He urged students to form the habit of reading at all times, this he said would help to broaden their knowledge and aid their informed contribution to society.
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