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In line with the vision and philosophy of Africa’s first modern poet and literary icon, late Dr. Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara, his foundation, Gabriel Okara Foundation, recently donated new teaching aids, including white marker boards and accessories with some of his books to Community Secondary School Bumoundi in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, to compliment the state government’s educational development efforts.
Speaking during the handover of the items, which included face masks, sanitisers and water dispensers, at the school premises, Mrs. Timinipre Okara-Schiller recalled how during one of her visits, she met the deplorable state of infrastructure in the school where the teachers were using old blackboards, adding that her late father had wanted to donate modern white marker boards and accessories to replace the old chalkboards in the school before he passed on.
Mrs Okara-Schiller noted that her late father had made financial provision for the procurement of the items before his demise, but explained that though the items were procured, the handover process delayed as the state government was carrying out renovation work at the school premises, coupled with the Covid19 pandemic.
She reiterated that the objective of her late father’s foundation is to protect, preserve and promote his legacies and other works of arts in general, as well as facilitate support for indigent children and youths in dire need of the right motivation to excel beyond their immediate environment, adding that such support includes organising literary workshops and competitions among schools in the state and beyond.
Mrs Okara-Schiller noted that her late father contributed immensely to the development of the Ijaw nation through his literary works, which promoted the Ijaw culture globally, just as he served Nigeria meritoriously in various capacities in both state and in the federal civil service, in addition to serving on different government committees in Bayelsa State.
She appreciated the former governor of Bayelsa State, Rt. Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, for being a pillar of support and for immortalizing the late literary icon.
The first daughter of the late literary legend also advised the students of Community Secondary School Bumoundi to keep to the Covid-19 Pandemic hygiene protocols by always washing their hands with soap and safe water frequently, adding that if they find themselves in a situation where soap and water were not readily available, they should endeavour to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content, with face masks for prevention of the pandemic.
Describing Dr. Gabriel Okara as a humble and disciplined man, whose literary works have served as a source of inspiration to people over the years, chairman of Bayelsa State Library Board and former special adviser to the governor on Strategy, Documentation and Community Relations, Chief Seiyefa Koroye, urged the younger generation to imbibe the reading culture of the late literary icon for their personal development.
While receiving the donated items, principal of Community Secondary School Bumoundi, Mr. Eze Romeo, thanked the foundation for the kind gesture and promised to make good use of the white marker boards and accessories.
He expressed deep appreciation to the foundation for finding time to come to sensitise the students on Covid-19 pandemic hygiene protocols.
Other members of the foundation on the entourage were lecturer from the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Dr Stephen Olali, head of Programmes of the Niger Delta Television, Gbarantoru, Mrs Bina Joseph Ilagha, and former commissioner for works and transport, in Bayelsa State, Chief Emmanuel Opigo.
It will be recalled that Bayelsa-born late Dr. Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara, a literary legend, described as Africa’s first modern poet, was a Nigerian award-winning poet and novelist, whose works have been translated into several languages.
Members of the foundation include, Prof. John Pepper Clark, a great poet, renowned historian, Prof. Ebiegberi Joe-Alagoa, Prof. Ernest Emenyonu of the Afrikana Studies, University of Michigan, Flint, USA, Odia Ofeimu and Chief Seiyifa Koroye, special adviser on Strategy, Documentation and Community Relations.
