By Gabriella Ogbu
The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, has challenged faculty members to harness the recently installed N350 million digital printing machine to publish their research findings and advance knowledge. This call to action was made during the commissioning of the digital printing project at the UNIUYO Main Campus in Nwaniba, Uyo, the state capital.
Prof. Ndaeyo emphasized that this innovative development is crucial for enhancing research, teaching, and learning for academics nationwide. “This new digital printing machine represents a significant leap forward in our efforts to improve the academic output and knowledge dissemination at UNIUYO and beyond,” he stated.
Mr. Kufre Paul, the Managing Director (MD) of Press and Digital Limited, highlighted the persistent issue of African authors’ identities and cultural legacies being lost due to inadequate preservation efforts. He expressed confidence that the new digital printing machine would address this gap. “The UNIUYO press will ensure the preservation and storage of books and narratives of African heritage for students and future generations through our ‘Project Africa Initiative,'” Paul assured.
He explained that the initiative aims to conserve local academic output by gathering, compiling, digitizing, and storing all writings by African authors on the Internet. “Project Africa Initiative is another outstanding service that UNIUYO Printing Press and Digital Limited has pioneered. This initiative will continue the publication of books by African authors and other African scholars,” Paul noted.
Mr. Paul elaborated on the importance of the initiative, noting the scarcity of African novels and traditional tales, particularly for students and modern readers. “We need a digital repository for these works of African literature to preserve them for future generations. Our stories contain our identity, and as we lose them, we also lose our cultural heritage, conventions, and identity,” he emphasized.
He pledged that every scholarly piece written by African authors or authors of African descent would be collated, collected, and converted into electronic format, then archived on the Internet. “This will ensure the preservation of our indigenous scholarly work for both the present and the future,” he said.
In his remarks, Prof. Ndaeyo expressed his satisfaction with the project, noting that it fulfills the university’s long-held aspiration to own a state-of-the-art printing press. “This endeavor marks a significant milestone in our commitment to academic excellence and the preservation of African heritage. It underscores our dedication to providing our faculty and students with the best tools to publish and disseminate their research,” he remarked.
