The Managing Director of the University of Uyo Printing Press and Digital Limited, Mr Kufre Paul, lamented the loss of identity and cultural heritage of African authors due to the lack of a digital platform to preserve their scholarly works.
Paul raised the concern while speaking at the official inauguration of the University of Uyo Printing Press and Digital Limited, held at the Institution’s main campus, Nwanniba Road on Monday.
He observed that stories written by these authors carry their identity, adding that as those materials are lost daily due to a lack of digital platforms to preserve them, the identity of the authors as well as their cultural heritage and norms also get lost in the process.
He said however that the “Project Africa Initiative” pioneered by the printing press would ensure that books and stories of African descent are preserved and stored for students and people of the 21st century.
According to him, the printing press would collate, collect and convert every work done by African authors into a digital platform and archive them on the Internet where they can be accessed by both present and future generations.
Paul said, “Another epic service pioneered by UNIUYO printing press and digital limited is the Project Africa Initiative. By “project Africa’ to us, it connotes the perseveration of our African books, African authors and other African scholarly materials.
“It’s no news that most of our African books and Indigenous stories are not more accessible, especially to the students and people of the 21st century, and this is because we do not have a digital platform where these African literary pieces are stored for the generation to come.
“Sadly, we know too well that most of our stories carry our identity; and as we lose them daily, so do we lose not only our identity but also our cultural heritage and norms daily.
“Our Indigenous scholarly work will henceforth be preserved, as we will collate, collect and convert every scholarly piece written by African or authors of African descent into electronic format and archive them on the Internet where it can be accessed by both the present and the future”
In his remarks, The Vice-chancellor of the University of Uyo, professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, said that the facility was a fulfilment of the long-standing dreams of the university to have its own printing press.
He said that the state-of-the-art facility is a public-private partnership arrangement between the institution and the managing director of Brainspace Limited. He further noted that the facility would offer opportunities for hands-on training, research and innovation.
The VC encouraged staff and students to explore the possibilities offered by the press and produce outstanding work to showcase their creativity, and talent without compromising on quality and service delivery.
“We gather to celebrate the official opening of the State-of-art Printing and Digital Limited, a facility that will revolutionise our academic and research endeavours.
“It is a fulfilment of the long-standing dreams of the University to have a printing press. This project is a testament to our University’s unwavering commitment to innovation, excellence sustainability and our quest to create a positive impact on our community.
”To our students, staff and members of the public, this facility offers opportunities for hands-on training, research and innovation. I encourage you to explore the possibilities this printing press offers and produce outstanding work that would showcase your creativity, and talent and without compromising in quality and service delivery,” the VC stated.