The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), New York, in collaboration with the African Theatre Association, London, has donated 43 copies of relevant and current books in the field of theatre arts to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State.
The book donation which is under the first phase of their Book Support Project to Africa has the objective of supporting professional training, research, teaching and learning in needy Theatre institutions in Africa.
Presenting the books to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sunday Elom, yesterday, the Vice President, African Theatre Association, Prof. Charles Nwadigwe, noted that AE-FUNAI was one of the three universities in Nigeria selected for the first phase of the donation, adding that he stood in for the Executive Director, USITT, Dr. David Grindle, who could not visit the country because of the restrictions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also noted that the University was chosen as one of the beneficiaries because of the track records of its theatre arts department, which though is still young in comparison to other universities, but is rated highly in the country among Theatre Arts departments.
He further explained that the books were 43 in number but under 37 titles, adding that many of them are rare titles that are not easily available in many universities in Nigeria, and advised that the books be shelved in the central University Library, to make them available to all users.
While receiving the books, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Elom stated that the repository of knowledge that is contained in the books will be of great benefits to the University’s staff and students.
The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Dennis Akoh also expressed his excitement that the University was among the three universities selected in Nigeria by the donors to benefit from the largesse.
He assured that the books will be properly shelved in the Central University Library, to enable both staff and students have unrestricted access to them.
