Vice President Kashim Shettima has charged students and researchers in Cross River State to cultivate the habit of reading so that they can make use of the just renovated state library in Calabar, the state capital.
He urged the students to make the state library their second home so that they could improve themselves academically in the future.
Shettima gave the charge during the commissioning of the newly renovated state library complex Calabar during the week.
Describing the library facility as a sanctuary of knowledge and innovation that will shape destinies, nurture ideas, and propel the state into the forefront of intellectual advancement, he stated that the transformation of the once-dilapidated structure into a state-of-the-art knowledge centre is a clear testimony of Governor Bassey Otu’s visionary leadership and enduring investment in intellectual infrastructure.
The vice president lauded the state governor for breathing new life into a public institution that had long been neglected, adding that the library is not just a building filled with books but a living monument of enlightenment and a beacon of hope for generations yet unborn.
Shettima, accompanied by a high-powered delegation of federal officials, stated that education and access to knowledge remain indispensable pillars of national development.
In his remarks, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, who underscored the significance of investing in knowledge infrastructure as a foundation for sustainable development stressed that a society which neglects its libraries endangers its future, while one that builds and preserves them safeguards its intellectual heritage.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering an environment where education and knowledge thrive under the “People First” philosophy of governance.
In her goodwill address, chairman of the Cross River State Library Board, Mrs. Eme-Ekanem Awatt, lauded Governor Otu for what she described as “a renaissance of the reading culture in Cross River State.”
She said the revival of the library goes beyond the physical renovation of a structure; it symbolises the rekindling of intellectual vibrancy and civic engagement within the community.
“This facility is a hub for learning, research, and community development. It democratizes knowledge by giving equal access to everyone—students, professionals, artisans, and even curious minds seeking to broaden their horizon,” she said.
