The Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom, His Eminence Eze Dr Eberechukwu Oji has made a clarion call to well-meaning Arochukwu indigenes to come together for the rehabilitation of the old, dilapidated structure of the Mary Slessor Library, near the Mary Slessor Secondary Technical School, Arochukwu Abia State.
Eze Aro made his position known while on a visit to the library, where he observed that the once-thriving trove of information has descended far away from what it used to be, and has become a shadow of itself.
Recalling his days as a child when he and other school children used to visit the library to hold debates and quizzes, the monarch described it as a historical monument and tourist site.
Our correspondent, who was part of the trip, observed that the single-storey structure made partly of durable cooked wood, had degenerated so badly that the doors, windows, stairs, and roof were falling apart and suffered leakage.
Although still looking neat, the shelves have become scanty and lacked vital, modern books. The old, colonial library yearned for a touch of modernity and could do with a serious touch of electronics to achieve a digital experience for users.
Further speaking, Eze Eberechukwu Oji frowned at the conversion of parts of the library into a farming facility by people, advising that they remove their farm products immediately, as the library is a national monument that needs to be preserved, rebuilt and sustained.
He therefore, pledged to make personal efforts towards its upgrade, even as he called on Umu Aro to join hands towards its restoration as a historical monument and tourist site.
See video of the visit on Jungle Journalist TV below:
