The U.S. Chapter of Southern Kaduna in the Diaspora (SOKAD) on Saturday donated N380,000 worth of books and instructional materials to some selected primary schools in Kaduna State.

Presenting the items to the benefiting schools in Kaduna, SOKAD’s President, Dr. Likita Aminu, said that the gesture was part of the organisation’s contribution to the educational development of the state.

Aminu listed the benefiting schools to include LGEA Primary School Dura, Jaba Local Government Area and LGEA Primary School Kamuru-Ikulu I, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.

He said: “In May 2013, a similar donation was made to Zack-Zawan Primary School in Sanga Local Government Area. In 2014, another donation was made to LGEA Primary School Kurdan, ZangonKataf LGA and UNICEF Model primary School KurminKwara, Dadu, Jaba Local Government Area.

“We will continue to play our part by contributing to the socio-economic development of our society. We are committed to the education of our people and hope to play an active role in that regard, because education remains the main driver of development of any society.”

Aminu listed some of the items donated to include: books, pens, school bags, rulers, pencils and other instructional materials.

Aminu was represented by Prof. Bala Dogo, Coordinator, Care and Action Research, a Kaduna-based NGO with focus on improving the literacy level of out-of-school youths as well as aged men and women.

Receiving the items on behalf of the schools, the District Head of Dura, Mr. Iliya Byeing, thanked SOKAD for the gesture.

According to him, only education can liberate children of the poor from the shackles of poverty.

He called on other organisations to emulate SOKAD and join the crusade of liberating rural dwellers from illiteracy through the provision of educational infrastructure and materials to rural schools.

Byeing pledged that the items would be properly utilised to promote quality education.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SOKAD is an organisation of indigenes from the southern part of Kaduna State in the Diaspora with branches in the U.S. and Canada. (NAN)

•Photo shows Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.