BUK VC Commissions Rebecca Rhodes Resource Room at NCRRD

Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas on Wednesday, 4th October, 2023 commissioned a resource room named after Rebecca Rhodes at the Nigeria Centre for Reading, Research and Development (NCRRD).

The Vice Chancellor acknowledged the contributions of the pioneer Director, Professor Ismaila Tsiga for initiating the idea of establishing the centre which he discussed with him when he was a Deputy Vice Chancellor.

He said the university pushed the idea and established the centre in collaboration with Florida State University.

The Vice Chancellor noted that the contributions of Rebecca Rhodes in the establishment of the centre. He charged the Centre to work assiduously to make the resource room known all over the country. The Vice Chancellor added that the University Management would continue to support the Centre to promote reading and research development in the country. While acknowledging the immense contributions of the pioneer staff of the Centre, Prof Tsiga, Prof Talatu Garba and Professor Kiyawa, he noted that the contributions of Rebecca Rhodes for her immense contributions towards the establishment of the centre is commendable.

A tribute of Rebecca Rhodes written by Jana Wooden, USAID/Nigeria Education Office Director and read at the commissioning ceremony said “Today, we are happy to join you in commissioning this resource room named after our beloved Rebecca Rhodes, a former Senior Education Specialist at USAID in Washington, DC. It is obvious that everyone here has a passion for education and high hopes for the future in Nigeria. We agree that this Reading and Research Center plays a critical role in ushering in generations of Nigerian children with stronger reading skills.

Before her demise in 2022, Rebecca was an outspoken champion for improving foundational learning for children and youth. She provided technical guidance on the design, implementation, and evaluation of reading, literacy, and numeracy programs in more than 40 countries, and was instrumental in shaping USAID's focus on learning outcomes, particularly in early grade reading. Rebecca worked tirelessly to ensure that children and youth have equal access to education opportunities, including girls, children and youth with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. She was a mentor, colleague, and friend who supported the professional development of countless education professionals around the globe including the professionals at this center. The passion she brought to each team she worked with reflected not only her technical expertise, but also her deep understanding of and love for the countries they represented. Rebecca's dedication to education and energy for her work were legendary and her impact on the global education sector is monumental.”

The resource room has a modest collection of books and eresources with Umar Ali Haruna as the Chief Librarian.