Mr Bolade Apampa, an architect in his sixties, has dedicated his retirement to ensure access to education for children in a local community in Masaka, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Through the Library & Learning Center (LLC) set up in Luvu-Madaki, along Millard Fuller Street, Masaka, Mr Apampa has provided an opportunity for children of school age to have access to reading materials for free.
Speaking exclusively to BONews Service in Luvu, Mr Apampa explained that the centre was set up in June 2020 which has been of great impact for children who could not go to school because of COVID-19 lockdown as well as those who were not enrolled in school.
He narrated that, “on June 29th 2020, was the day a child passed in front of the metal doors of what I considered a small rented room where I could catch up with all the books I had locked up in there which termites had helped considerably in destroying.
“In no time I salvaged what was left and decided to use the space as my personal reading room. This child asked me a question, “Is this a library?” I had never given thought to such a question, but quickly responded by saying, “Yes, it’s my personal library but you are welcome to come in and read.”
“That was how I founded the Library & Learning Center in the small but fast growing semi-rural community on the outskirts of Abuja. Today, the story has indeed changed to the glory of God.”
Mr Apampa expressed his delight as children have continued to show keen interest in learning despite being deprived from access to internet like children in urban communities.
Mr Apampa who noted that he has purchased current text books to serve the students in their current classes mentioned that , “the activities of the Center include: Reading books, Borrowing books, After School Coaching, Mentoring, Games & Sports, Volunteering, Supporting parents with shortfalls in their school fees and sponsoring those in need of vocational training.”
He also mentioned that the impact that has been made at the LLC has made him to focus his retirement on providing educational support for children in poor communities, adding that, “the ultimate goal is to design a community model that can be replicated in semi-rural areas across the country.”
In the meantime, he expects that the LLC will expand to a permanent site within the neighbourhood with Multimedia Facilities, Arts & Crafts section, Games area, and building the capacity of the children to run the library.
Mr Apampa opines that, “these children are a reason and motivation to look forward to each new day.”
To date, the LLC has grown to provide resource for junior and secondary school students. The Library& Learning Center now has a library of books and learning tools to engage the active minds of these future leaders.
