CBU donates computers to Nigeria
Dr. Princely Ifinedo had the idea to donate computers to Africa since 2008
A school in Nigeria now has new computers, thanks to a professor at Cape Breton University.
Dr. Princely Ifinedo, who himself is from the African nation of Nigeria, has had the idea to donate computers to Africa since 2008. In June, his hard work finally paid off nearly a decade after proposing the donation.
Professor Ifinedo first proposed the idea in a talk, “The Role of Information Technology in Socioeconomic Development: Case Studies in Africa,” delivered at CBU in 2008. After the lecture, he found there was support for the cause.
“During that particular seminar, a few colleagues of mine came up to me and said ‘wow, this would be a great idea if we could find a way to send used computers to schools in Africa,’” said Ifinedo.
At that time, local organizations rallied to support Ifinedo’s initiative to send more than 50 used computers and other equipment received from the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board to Nigeria. Unfortunately, this never got off the ground due to logistical problems and other outside factors.
Bit despite this setback, Ifinedo didn’t forget about the cause.
“There was a recent upgrade of computers at CBU, and I said ‘this can be a way for me to have an opportunity to get computers to them (Nigeria),’” said Ifenido.
Ifinedo approached Debbie Rudderham, CBU’s chief information officer, about sending used computers to a school in Nigeria. Rudderham sourced a few old laptops and Ifinedo donated two of his own desktop computers. The computers were then delivered to Nigeria during a conference trip Ifinedo took to the African nation this past June.
The school that received the computers from CBU is called Obodeti Secondary Commercial School, located in Delta State in Nigeria.
In the community where the school is located, it is custom that gifts meant for the community are presented to elders and members of the Community Development Committee (CDC) at the native court.
In keeping with custom, the computers were presented to High Chief Jacob Egbuwe. He told Ifinedo the donation was appreciated and will help the children’s education.
“We are indeed very happy to receive these computers; we are grateful for the gesture, and we know these tools will support the advancement of our children’s learning,” Egbuwe said to Ifinedo.
The school’s vice-principal, Chinedu R. Ajameh also thanked the community, Ifinedo, and everyone who made the gift possible.
“Obodeti Secondary Commercial School has finally joined the information age and access to computers is in indeed the beginning of better things yet to come,” said Ajameh.
Even after so many years of fighting for this cause, Ifinedo is not finished with his charitable work. He plans to continue to donate computers to other schools in Nigeria in the future.
Anyone interested in donating used laptops to secondary schools in Nigeria can contact Ifinedo at princely_ifinedo@cbu.ca or call him at 902 563 1227.