The first time I saw the Otukpo Library was in 1988, during a visit to my uncle who worked there. It was not much of a place, and I did not explore the interior in any detail. Still, I felt a quiet pride that our town had a library at all. At the time, my love for books and reading was only beginning to blossom, and the mere presence of such an institution meant something to me.
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Many years later, when I returned to Otukpo, I could not even locate the library.
Some people said it had been closed down; others did not know what I was talking about.
Eventually, the truth became clear: the library had been abandoned by the government, left to decay until all activity ground to a halt.
This sad reality is powerful evidence of the little or no value that many in governance place on knowledge, reading, writing, and effective communication skills within the community. It amounts to a deliberate denial of the people’s right to enlightenment—an attempt to keep citizens uninformed, docile, and unable to put public officers on their toes or demand accountability.
The neglect of the Otukpo Library is not an isolated incident; it is systemic.
It reflects an unwritten rule of neglect by successive state governments—not only to underdevelop the library but to keep Otukpo as backward as possible.
One only has to look at the dusty roads, the never-ending renovation and reconstruction of township roads, and other basic infrastructural developments consistently denied the town.
This is particularly painful given that Otukpo is regarded as the capital of the Idoma Kingdom.
Against this bleak background, the renovation of the Otukpo Library by private individuals stands out as a remarkable act of self-determination by the Idoma people.
It is an initiative worthy of pride and celebration. It demonstrates that even when politicians and government abandon us, we can rise to the challenge and take responsibility for building our town into a beautiful, vibrant place—one that reflects our rich culture and has the potential to attract people from all corners of the world.
Kudos to the visionaries and benefactors behind this laudable effort.
Their work is a reminder that progress does not always wait for government approval or intervention.
God bless you all for this great service to the community.
Going forward, it would be wise to establish an endowment fund and encourage widespread donations to revive the library fully and sustain it for future generations. Knowledge is too important to be left to chance, and the Otukpo Library deserves to live again—not just as a building, but as a beacon of learning, enlightenment, and hope
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