Revitalizing Knowledge Hub: Minister of Education Prioritizes NIEPA’s Library Rebuilding

On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, a high-powered ministerial team, led by Mrs. Obianuju Anigbogu, Director of Educational Planning, Research, and Development, visited the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) to assess the damage caused by a fire incident that ravaged the institute’s library building earlier this year.

The team, which included the Director of Library Services, Mr Barnabas Awunmadu, the Director of General Services, Mrs Wategire V., and the NIEPA Desk Officer in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Dania M., was dispatched by the Honorable Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman SAN, to evaluate the situation and recommend solutions for rebuilding a modern, digitalized library.

Welcoming the team, NIEPA’s Acting Director General, Dr. Shofoyeke expressed his gratitude for their prompt response to the Institute’s plight. He highlighted the significance of the library, which served not only the Institute’s needs but also those of surrounding institutions and communities. According to Dr. Shofoyeke, the original library, destroyed by a power surge, was a treasure trove of educational resources, and its loss was deeply felt by the academic community. He added that the new library, once built, will not only serve as a repository of knowledge but also as a symbol of resilience and commitment to education.

The team was taken on a tour of the burnt library, and they were visibly moved by the extent of the destruction. Mrs. Anigbogu assured the Acting Director General and management that a comprehensive report would be submitted to the Minister. She hoped a new library would be constructed to meet the needs of NIEPA’s participants, organizations, and the local community.

The Director EPR&D emphasized the vital role NIEPA plays in developing Nigeria’s education sector hence the Minister’s interest in ensuring the Institute receives all necessary support.