‘COVID-19’ IQRA Foundation launches community walk-in library in Bariga (Photos)

The IQRA Foundation, a non-profit organisation in Nigeria focused on providing improved access to quality education for marginalised children in Nigeria, launched a community walk-in library at Bariga, Lagos.

The library, which was built in partnership with Spazio Ideale, an interior design company in Lagos, boasts of modern facility and homely enough for the children.

The programmes director of The IQRA Foundation, Ayomide Ladipo, stated that the programme was conceptualised to bridge the gap created due to the damage caused COVID-19 pandemic.

“During COVID-19, a lot of children were at home. Education should be a continuous exercise and shouldn’t be stopped. Coupled with the fact that these children can also learn in an unconventional manner. These form the basis of the idea; we dont want a situation where the education of these children will stop because of COVID-19.

“And we chose Bariga because we saw the efforts of the community at bringing literacy to the children here and so we rode on that,” the programme director revealed.

Ladipo appreciated the Bariga community for their supports and Spazio Ideale for the design and implementation of the project.

The proprietress of the school, Mrs. Johnson, lauded the IQRA Foundation for the important initiative.

“We really appreciate the idea you brought to our school because people are mainly fishermen here. It will surely bring a great turnaround for the children,” she said.

And according to its representative, Spazio Ideale saw the opportunity to serve as a privilege to have worked on the project.

RovingHeights, Page Bookstore, Ouidah Books, and Restructure Africa donated suitable books for school aged children. These books along with books from other individual donors will ascertain that the library is well equipped to cater to children of all age groups/ children ages e.g. 4-18. We are grateful to our donors, who provided funding and manpower to ensure the library was constructed to be up to quality child engaging standards.

Established on the back of the school closure that denied access to millions of marginalised children, the walk-in community library will prevent a future occurrence as it will ensure children in the community have access to a variety of books to aid literacy, no matter the situation. It will be managed by the community book club and Bright Achievers Academy.

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