TheCable

Unubiko Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, says it has launched a N250 million intervention fund to rebuild the Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School, Atan Abam in Abia state.

James Ume, the organisation’s chairman/founder, disclosed this in Lagos at the launch of ‘Technology and Development – An African Perspective’, a book by Everest Amaefule, business editor of The Punch.

Ume said the N250 million intervention fund was a demonstration of his commitment to the development of his community.

According to him, the foundation had implemented many intervention programmes in Nigeria in areas of skills acquisition in digital technology, youths and women empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction, among others.

Ume further called on Nigerians to join him in building the future of the school and the community.

“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,” he said.

Ume applauded the commitment of author to insights that affect Nigeria and the global economy through his writings.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

He encouraged other journalists to develop themselves and be part of living history by documenting their perspectives on issues of growth, development, politics, economy and security.