Sir Emeka Offor Foundation Distributes Learning Supplies Worth Millions
ORAFITE, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA, October 27, 2012 - The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF), a non-governmental, philanthropic organization focused on youth employment, families, education, healthcare and infrastructure development, today distributed books, computers and other educational supplies worth more than $10 million dollars to over 300 institutions of learning and public libraries across the country. The Foundation collaborated with Books For Africa (BFA), a non-profit organization in St. Paul, Minnesota, is the world’s largest shipper of educational books to Africa.
The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation was founded by Sir Emeka Offor, Chairman of The Chrome Group, (www.thechromegroup.net), a leading West African oil and gas conglomerate.
In 2010, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation initiated a plan to sponsor major shipments of books to Nigeria, The Gambia and a number of other countries across the African continent. In 2010, the Foundation sponsored eight containers to students in Nigeria and in 2011, another 16 containers, a total of about 530,000 books.
The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation has helped Books For Africa ship nearly 640,000 books worth more than $6.5 million to students in Nigeria and The Gambia over the last three years.
An array of cultural dance displays by students from benefitting institutions was part of the carnival-like event.
The First Lady, Her Excellency Dame Patience Jonathan, who was the Special Guest of Honor at the ceremony was represented by Senator Ben Obi (Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs.) Other dignitaries present included Senator Ken Nnamani (former Senate President), Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ambassador Howard Jeter (former US ambassador to Nigeria), Tom Warth (Founder, Books For Africa), Mrs Jackie Farris (DG, Yar’adua Centre), Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese Rt Rev Dr G.I.N Okpala, Vice Chancellors and Rectors of various Universities and Polytechnics and traditional rulers, among others.
To see photos from the event, click here.
Hon Tony Obi, the Coordinator of the SEOF in a welcome address higlighted the various achievements of the foundation so far which included the scholarship scheme being offered to students at all levels.
The books are for varied fields of knowledge -- Agric Sciences, Business and Economics, Computer Sciences, Communication skills, English Literature, Medical and Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Biology, Sociology and Anthropology, French Language Studies, Religious Studies, Engineering, Law (including some sets of West Core complete Law libraries), Assorted Reference booksand an array of General Library and leisure books among others. They also include some quantities of desktop and laptop computers. Institutions will recieve one but mostly a combination of some of the above subjects.
The high point of the event was the cutting of the tape and the symbolic presentation of the books and educational supplies by Sir Emeka Offor, accompanied by dignitaries and celebrities to representatives of selected schools.
Foundation officials expect that by the third batch slated for next year, all higher institutions in Nigeria, as well as many more of the primary and secondary schools, would have been covered.
Sir Emeka who had last year promised a brand new car and automatic employment in his company to any of the beneficiaries of the SEOF scholarship scheme who makes a first class, followed through on his promise as he officially presented a brand new Toyota car to Miss Ebere Anaegbuonu, a first class graduate of Industrial Physics from Anambra State University Uli.
Nigerian celebrities; P-square, Flavour, Bracket, and the duo of “Aki and PawPaw” were also present and added colour to the event.
To see the full poster commemorating the 2nd distribution of books by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation by clicking the image below:
About the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation
The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation is a philanthropic organization based in Oraifite, Anambra State, Nigeria. The Foundation seeks to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged through philanthropy, and focuses primarily on giving support and hope to those in need irrespective of tribe, creed, religion and nation. To date, the foundation has committed more than N750 million ($4.7 million USD) to charitable projects. For more information, visit http://sireofforfoundation.org.