The Educate A Rural Child (ERC) Project, an initiative of the Wife of the Executive Governor of Oyo state, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, on Thursday, received the support of HEBN Publishers Limited as the company donated to the project, 13, 600 books worth five million, one hundred and sixty three thousand, three hundred and twelve naira (N5, 163, 312.50).

The books handed over to Mrs. Ajimobi, represented by two Senior Special

Assistants, Mrs. Sandra Kolade and Mrs. Titi Adeware at the First Lady’s office comprises of 27 titles in the area of children’s novel on HIV/AIDs, textbooks, story and activity books will be distributed to ERC intervention primary schools as library resource materials.

They will be distributed in 10 rural Local Government Areas of the state; Irepo, Iwajowa, Isokan, Afijio, Atisbo, Ibarapa East, Olorunsogo, Orelope, Saki West and Surulere with each local council receiving 1,360 books each

Speaking during the official hand over, the Chairman of HEBN Publishers Plc, formerly known as Heinemann Educational Book Nig. Ltd, Mr. Ayo Ojeniyi, noted that books are indispensable tools for education and they facilitate quality education in schools with or without borders, adding that it is the belief at HEBN that primary education ought to be accorded priority being the foundation upon which other phases of education are built.

According to him, it is based on the company’s firm conviction that the ERC project will go a long way in creating access to well equipped libraries for primary schools in the rural areas of Oyo state that they decided to partner with it, adding that the partnership will be a continuous one as they will also organize readings by accomplished authors for the pupils.

He thanked Mrs. Ajimobi for allowing the company to be a part of the ERC cause which he described as a worthy one and expressed hope that the books will develop literacy and numeracy skills among pupils and impact positively on the lives of children in rural areas.

Speaking earlier, Mrs. Kolade who is the Senior Special Adviser on Social Welfare reiterated Mrs. Ajimobi’s commitment to taking qualitative education to children in the rural areas and promised that all the books will get to the right quarters