The edifice, opened in 1965, was classically built, reflecting the vision of the young Dim, who had left Oxford University just ten years earlier, in 1955. Some say it was the architectural masterpiece of Dr. Alex Ekwueme. But whoever shaped it, even in its current abandoned state, it remains one of the most striking architectural works in all of Onitsha.
We met this building twenty years later. And because Onitsha didn’t have many safe, creative spaces for children, the library became our sanctuary. Many people now in their late 30s to 50s found a second home within its walls. It had countless comic books, stories like Tom Sawyer, The Frankenstein Monster, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and many others that sparked our imaginations and stretched our young minds.
Back in our primary school days, access was free. But by the late 90s, it cost about ₦100 a month. Even then, I’ve never seen a library as alive as Onitsha District Library. It was where we read not just literature, we also prepared for JAMB, GCE, and every major exam.
That’s why, in 2019, when I had the opportunity to share my life story, I gave full credit to the Onitsha District Library. It played one of the most defining roles in making me who I am today.
Today, that library is a ghost of its former self. For over a year, social media – especially Twitter – has hosted campaigns urging authorities to act. But so far, nothing has been done to restore this cradle of learning and community.
I understand the emotions the topic stirs. Those of us who were raised in Onitsha know what that place meant. It raised us. It nurtured us. And now, many are willing to give back.
But as we do so, let’s also seek a way to bring stakeholders to the table and have an honest conversation. We know how powerful our voices can be and we have the choice to either use it loudly or calmly.
Still, one of the books I read in that library told the story of a contest between the Sun and the Wind. And the moral of that story? That gentleness can achieve far more than force or aggression.
Let’s go for results…
