By Our Special US Correspondent

L-R: Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ogbuagu, Ms. Kun Kyung Sok of Korea International Cooperation Agency and Dr. Efe Agbamu, Asst. Superintendent, St. Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Ms. Sok is building a library in Wabane, (Cameroon)

St. Paul, MN (USA) — Founder/CEO of Chinkelly Schools and former Delta State Education Commissioner Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ogbuagu was among 500 people and dignitaries from Africa, Asia, and the U S who graced the 25th anniversary gala of Books For Africa (BFA), the NGO that has donated more than 29 million books to about 50 African countries since 1988, at Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 20.

And in appreciation of Dr. Ogbuagu’s well-documented book distribution effort from two 40-foot containers of books she received from BFA earlier this year, Tom Warth, the British-born founder of BFA, gave Dr. Ogbuagu a 40-foot container of books.

“Give more books to this lady!” Warth told BFA staff, gesturing to Dr. Ogbuagu at BFA warehouse party, a day after the gala. Dr. Ogbuagu expressed gratitude for the gift and thanked BFA for its vital contribution to literacy and development in Africa.

Besides Dr. Ogbuagu, other leaders from Africa and from the U S includes His Excellency Girma Birru, Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World-wide General Secretary of YWCA [Young Women Christian Association] of Zimbabwe, Mrs. Anna Mkapa, former First Lady of Tanzania, Dr. Anjimile Mtila Oponyo, Principal Secretary Responsible for Basic and Secondary Education in Malawi, Majid Michel, Ghanaian actor, Robert Amoako, former chair of the Ghana Book Trust, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Sharon Sayles Belton, former Mayor of Minneapolis and Vice President for Community Relations and Government Affairs at ThomsonReuters, Dr. Efe Agbamu, Assistant Superintendent in St. Paul Public Schools (Minnesota), Catherine Mbena and Agnes Swai of Tanzania National Parks, Evashia Mwikhali, singer and songwriter, Kun Kyung Sok of Korea International Cooperation Agency, and a Delegation from the Office of Executive Governor Amaechi of Rivers State, Nigeria, and others.