John “Little John” Padgett loads pallets of books onto a truck on the donations’ first leg to Nigeria.
Reinhardt students, faculty and staff have done it again, sending much-needed educational materials to Nigeria as part of AfrikaREADS.
AfrikaREADS is an international outreach program spearheaded by Reinhardt’s African Descendants’ Student Association (ADSA). It began five years ago with a donation to Ondo State University in Nigeria. The program, led by the ADSA and faculty member Tunji Adesan, has grown with this year’s donation of more than 7,000 books to multiple African universities.
“The Eagle has done it again. We are flying higher,” Adesan said. “The donated books are on their way to Nigeria. Thank you so much for all your donations, support and all your help. We could not have done it without you.”
The 14 pallets of books will be donated to a public college, the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, which Adesan was able to visit in June 2016. Books also are being donated to two private universities in Nigeria – Crownhill University and Afe Babalola University.
Key donors in the effort include the University’s Hill Freeman Library and Spruill Learning Center, Reinhardt football players, Missy Dayoub and the physical plant staff, and the Student Government Association.
“We also want to thank the maintenance crew for all their help in picking up the books, as well as providing a space for us to store the books. A big shout out to the Reinhardt University library for all the wonderful books and support they have offered toward this project over the years,” Adesan said.
This year’s project began earlier in the academic year, and Adesan said Pickens High School, Chattahoochee Technical College and community members were among the donors for the project.
This effort of service, like many others at Reinhardt University, is part of the institution’s overall mission to educate the whole person by developing the intellectual, personal, vocational, spiritual and physical dimensions of its students. Through the values of faith, learning and leading at Reinhardt, students are able to learn qualities that enable them to be well-rounded individuals, including volunteering for service projects outside the classroom.
