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Abubakar Community Resource Center Launched
American Ambassador Howard F. Jeter and Nigerian
dignitaries led by His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu
of Bauchi State inaugurated the Iya Abubakar Community Resource
Center for the North-East Zone on June 2nd.
The second of six planned community resource centers to be located
in each of the geopolitical zones of Nigeria, the Iya Abubakar
Center has 40 computer work-stations in a state-of-the-art facility
located at the Bauchi Library building. It will provide internet
services, computer courses, video conferencing facilities, and
other business services. It will serve the North-eastern zone,
which includes Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe
states.
The Center is a project of the Education for Development and
Democracy Initiative (EDDI), an interagency partnership between
the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development,
the Peace Corps, and the Departments of Education and Agriculture,
with collaboration from the African public and private sectors.
Ambassador Jeter noted that establishing the CRC in Bauchi required
tremendous effort, cooperation, collaboration and a special commitment
on the part of the Bauchi State Government and EDDI. He also noted
that the Ya' Abubakar Center is a Nigerian Center, designed to
help Nigeria fulfill its commitment to information technology
as a national priority by providing greater access to information,
technology, distance education, and skills development. The Center
is for the use of all residents of the North-east zone. The Ambassador
praised the enthusiastic and active partnership of Bauchi State
and especially the commitment made by Governor Mu'azu. He also
announced that EDDI donated over 15,000 volumes to Bauchi State
for its Library.
His Excellency Governor Muhammad Danjuma Goje of Gombe State
led the unveiling of the inaugural plaque. The name of the Center
honors Professor Iya Abubakar, a noted mathematician, physicist
and statement originally from Adamawa State. Professor Ya' Abubakar
attended the ceremony and addressed the audience.
The Center has an Enabling Technologies Room that is equipped
with Braille keyboards and other specialized software, to serve
physically challenged students.
Source: http://abuja.usembassy.gov/wwwhp060203a.html
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