Deep in the heart of Nigeria, along the coast of West Africa, lies the oil-rich region known as the Niger Delta . . . .
For centuries, people lived from the land and water of the Niger Delta, mostly as farmers and fishermen. Lush, verdant vegetation dotted the landscape. Clean water permeated through the communities. Air was free of smoky, billowing flames.
In the 1950s, oil companies arrived and began transforming the Niger Delta into a region where everything revolves around oil. Today, the Niger Delta is a hotbed of oil production, glaring inequities, and constant conflict over the “black gold.” Oil constitutes 90% of Nigeria’s exports and over 80% of Nigeria’s government revenue.
Destruction of natural resources—including the loss of endemic species—prevents people from being able to fish as a means of livelihood. Polluted waters force people to travel 40 km for fresh water. Gas flaring—the burning of gas as a by-product of oil operations—lights up the sky 24 hours a day. Many children grow up never experiencing night.
Oil companies operating in the Niger Delta have dipped into their billions of dollars of profits to build a handful of schools in certain communities. However, the large majority of the population lacks access to education. Most have completed only primary school or secondary school.
Despite the lack of adequate educational resources, many people in the Niger Delta have a strong interest in preserving their communities and environment. Many seek to empower themselves by expanding their knowledge base.
The Niger Delta Book Project formed in order to provide places for people in the Niger Delta to read books, attend lectures, and congregate with others interested in engaging themselves to help preserve the Niger Delta.
With your help, people in the Niger Delta will gain access to books and the knowledge of others. Please consider donating books to help stock the library. Any and all books are welcome—from textbooks to novels to children’s books.
photos © Ed Kashi
Niger Delta Book Project 