Books donation by MacArthur Foundation

The Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has taken delivery of a large consignment of books and CD-ROMs as part of MacArthur Foundation technical assistance to the University.  The books numbering 7,802 books were made available to the University by the MacArthur Foundation through Sabre Foundation Inc. of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Sabre Foundation has since its inception in 1969, worked to provide books worth millions of dollars to educational institutions in developing countries all over the world.

It all started in November, 2004 when the University and Sabre Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by which the University agreed to provide subject priorities to Sabre Foundation.  The Foundation on its part was to source for appropriate titles and forward them to the University over three years duration.         By the arrangement, the University was required to make available a cost-sharing fund of 7,500 U.S. Dollars per year, thereby putting the total cost on the University to 22,500 USD over the three-year period.  The University immediately made a down payment of the 22,500 USD to the Foundation. 

Related to this, the Faculty of Science also took delivery of over 500 titles from Sabre Foundation.  The arrangement dates back to May, 2004 when the MacArthur Foundation approved a special grant of 50,000 USD to the Faculty of Science after the commissioning of basic

Science equipment for Faculty of Science laboratories by the President of the MacArthur Foundation, Dr. Jonathan Fanton. The equipment were provided by MacArthur Foundation  The funds were to be utilized for the purchase of new books for the nine departmental libraries in the Faculty of Science.  It was envisaged that the procurement of the books would complement the usage of the newly acquired and installed laboratory equipment.

Both consignments of books were formerly handed over to the University Librarian, Professor Zakari Mohammed and the Dean Faculty of Science Professor J.F. Iyun by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shehu U. Abdullahi at a mini ceremony held at the foyer of the Senate Building on Tuesday, 1st July 2008.

Apart from books and laboratory equipment, the MacArthur Foundation has recently made available a donation of 2.4m USD to boost the University’s ICT project and other facilities in the main library.  The Vice-Chancellor uses this occasion to express immense appreciation to the MacArthur Foundation for its concern and continuous support to the University.

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