The 9th African Library Project Summit was concluded on Monday, March 11th 2024 at Maliki Boys High School in Bungoma County. The five-day summit was a partnership between Kibabii University, Rongo University and the African Library Project which concluded with the training of local teacher-librarians by librarians from Kibabii University and the founders of the African Library Project.
Prof. Munir Muganda, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Planning, Partnerships, Research, and Innovation at Kibabii University, represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Ipara Odeo at the event. Notable guests who attended the event included Kibabii University’s Prof. Ernest Mohochi and Ms. Chris Bradshaw, the Founder of the African Library Project.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor noted that the transformative power of literature and information has empowered students to envision a future beaming with possibilities. He noted that there is need to come together and build a legacy where every child has access to the boundless world of knowledge where libraries stand as beacons of enlightenment, and literacy becomes the cornerstone of our brighter future for Africa.
The initiative’s core objective is to elevate the level of readership across Africa. Notably, over the past year, the program has contributed to an increase in readership, rising from 48% to 49%. As a direct outcome of the summit, numerous schools are poised to benefit from the provision of books after the teacher-librarian training.
Attendees were awarded with certificates to recognize their efforts in promoting a reading culture in Africa, and gift hampers to appreciate their attendance.
