A N250 million intervention fund for the rebuilding of Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School, Atan Abam in Abia State has been launched under the auspices of Unubiko Foundation.
The fund, according to the Chairman/Founder, Unubiko Foundation, and the Publisher of THE WHISTLER, Chief James Ume, is based on his commitment to the development of the people and public infrastructure.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday at the launch of a book titled, “Technology and Development – An African Perspective,” written by the Business Editor of the PUNCH, Mr. Everest Amaefule, Ume urged well-meaning Nigerians to join hands in building the future of young ones and developing the community.
Persecondnews.com recalls that the Foundation had implemented many intervention programmes in Nigeria in the areas of skill acquisition in digital technology, youths and women empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction among others.
Ume, who was the Chief Presenter of the book, said:“It is worthwhile to state that in my commitment to the development of our people both infrastructural-wise and in capacity, the Unubiko Foundation has just launched a N250m intervention fund to rebuild the Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School, Atan Abam in Abia State and I invite all of us to be part of the future we are building.”
As a demonstration of his support to the book and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ume bought 10 copies for N2 million for the library of the NUJ National Secretariat in Abuja, additional 10 copies each for the FCT and Abia Councils of the NUJ for N2 million each, and another 10 copies for Unubiko Foundation for N2 million.
Similarly, Ume who was represented at the event by The Deputy Editor, THISDAY, Obinna Chima, purchased another 10 copies of the book for Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School for the same N2 million, bringing his total support for the scholarly publication to N10 million.
He applauded the commitment of the author towards providing insights through his writings on issues that affect Nigeria and the global economy.
“In other parts of the world, it is a given for journalists to write books and offer their deep insights into issues that shape and can potentially impact on the course of events in their societies. It is not that common in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
“It is in this wise that when we find journalists such as Mr. Amaefule bringing their wealth of experience garnered over many years in a book form, we should applaud their industry and commitment to better and grow society.
“The book comes at a time that Nigeria albeit Africa needs to examine the nexus between technology and development and how it can leverage on the former to achieve the latter especially in the face of global shutdowns owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I remain persuaded that this book will add to the existing body of knowledge and be useful not just to academics, but also to journalists and students of development,’’ Ume said.
Ume noted that the author from a humble beginning rose through the ranks — first as a correspondent to become a Business Editor and a sought-after voice in business and financial circles as a result of his profound thoughts and unbiased analysis of issues.
“I should say that as a journalist myself and an industry consultant, Everest is one of the few minds I trust to take on issues knowing how painstaking he is when dissecting issues of national interest.
“This book is a challenge to other journalists not to rest on their oars but to continue to strive to develop themselves and be part of living history by documenting their perspectives on issues of growth, development, politics, economy and security,” Ume spoke glowingly of Everest.
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