Marine Platforms takes CSR to Kaduna

An indigenous maritime, oil and gas service firm, Marine Platforms, has advanced in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy as it donates 100 mini mobile libraries to aid education of children in Kaduna State.

The Chief Finance Officer, Marine Platforms, Baji Nyam, said the facilities would help to improve the reading culture of the pupils in the Northern part of the country.

The books, according to him, will open up their imagination and give them a glimpse of lives beyond their immediate environment.

Nyam said the company, in its quest to extend its CSR initiatives to the state had consulted the Director of Book Box Foundation, Lola Shoneye, who came up with the idea of encouraging the reading culture through the mini mobile library initative.

“We bought into this idea because it is a fact that if you plant a seed of knowledge in a child, you cannot quantify the extent that it will go. If you educate a child the impact will go a long way because that child will educate others. And that is what led to this idea of donating a 100 mini mobile library to primary schools particularly in Kaduna State,” he said.

Nyam said prior research showed that public libraries in the state are decaying. “There were no books, and where you eventually find one, the books are very old, or substandard,” he said.

According to him, the 100 mini mobile libraries will be distributed among various primary schools in the state. It is a rigid metal case with wheel that can be wheeled to classes on a daily basis to entrench a reading culture.

Nyam said the mini mobile library has been presented to the Governor of the state, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, who applauded the development and gave his consent to the project.

“It is important that we all come together as Nigerians and work towards improving the quality of education that we have currently. Government on its own cannot revive the education without the help of individuals that will support the quest for improved public school education.” he urged.

Marine Platforms, which specialises in Well services, Subsea Solutions and Vessel Chartering, has earlier taken its CSR to Maritime Academy Oron, Onne and Ogu communities among others. It has also trained many seafarers and ROV (Remote Operated Vehicles) officers from various part of the country.