School Proprietor Donates 200 Books to Anambra Schools to Support Child Development

Funmi Ogundare

Founder and Head of Flora Field Montessori School and Flora Field College, Awka, Anambra State, Dr Ngozi Manafa, has donated 200 copies of her book, ‘Tiny Hands, Big Lessons: What Children Teach Us Daily’ to primary and secondary schools in the state to encourage teachers, parents and caregivers to draw practical lessons from children’s everyday experiences.
The books, which will be distributed through the Association of Private Schools in Awka South, aim to improve approaches to child development and encourage adults to pay closer attention to children’s perspectives.
The coordinator of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Awka South Local Government Area chapter, Mr Okeke Madu, received the books recently at a two-day digitech conference and training for NAPPS members in the state.
Manafa said the book was inspired by her experiences working with children and her observation that their words, questions, actions and everyday experiences often contain important lessons that adults may overlook, adding, “The publication is intended to encourage teachers, parents, guardians and caregivers to use their daily interactions with children as opportunities to support learning and development.”
She explained that a better understanding of children would enable adults to provide appropriate guidance and create an environment that supports their growth into responsible individuals. The author described the donation as her contribution to education development and child welfare, stressing that individuals and organisations could improve education through practical initiatives.
She urged the association to ensure the books reach their intended beneficiaries and are used meaningfully in schools, adding that she would welcome feedback from teachers, parents, and other readers on the book’s usefulness and the lessons it offers.
The Secretary of the National Board of Trustees of NAPPS, Dr Francisca Olikeze, commended Manafa for the gesture and her commitment to developing education in Anambra. She encouraged other members of the association to emulate Manafa’s initiative and selfless service by doing more to promote education in the state and across Nigeria.
The books are expected to provide participating schools with additional resource material for teachers and others involved in children’s education and upbringing.