The
Principal Partner, J2 Consulting, Mr. Oludele Aina, has called for more
investment in neighbourhood libraries, saying they are needed more than
churches in the society.
Aina
said this on Sunday at the inauguration and dedication ceremony of the
Wonderful Library, an initiative of the Just Jesus Foundation, in Lagos.
According
to Aina, books have the ability to transform the destinies of individuals for
the better.
“People
need to have access to knowledge beyond what they are taught in the church.
Books give a wider scope beyond what they hear. Nobody knows it all.
“When
you come to a library, you interact with different minds from different
generations. Some are in their 30s and some in their 50s. These are people who
see life and Christianity from different perspectives, yet we are talking about
one God,” he said.
Aina
said the library had a collection of books which cut across motivational,
religious and educational subjects.
He
added, “This is basically a resource centre, where people from the age of 12
and above can come in to read. We are in the encouragement business like the
biblical Barnabas and I see us going beyond Lagos. Dr. Benjamin Carson, a
retired neurosurgeon and one of the United States presidential aspirants, was
transformed in a neighbourhood library donated by Andrew Carnegie. I know that
there are many Carsons out there.
“I
have had this vision with me since 1995, when I graduated from the University
of Ibadan. God told me that he is raising me to raise men with hearts large
enough to take whatsoever he will drop in them.
“Many
people read because they had to pass. Reading has transformed my life and
exposes you to many things.”
In
his remarks, one of the participants, Mr. Dayo Fajimi, said people who would
come in to the library would encounter a difference with the array of books
available.
“I
believe that this library will contribute positively to the minds and hearts of
people. Through this library, destiny will be restored and men will be drawn to
God,” he said.
Source: The Punch
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