The T.Y. Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) has flagged off its 2025 programme of activities with a renewed commitment to promoting literacy and creative writing among Nigerian youths.
The event, held on Thursday, at Adam’s Pages Bookstore, Abuja, also commemorated World Read Aloud Day 2025 and marked the 65th anniversary of Cyprian Ekwensi’s literary classics, “The Drummer Boy” and “The Passport of Mallam Ilia.”
The ceremony brought together students and pupils from various schools in Abuja, who participated in a read-aloud session of the two books, reinforcing TYBLI’s mission of fostering a reading culture among young Nigerians.
Addressing journalists at the event, the Chairperson of TYBLI, Dr. Elizabeth Ben-Iheanacho, outlined the organisation’s achievements in 2024 and unveiled ambitious plans for the new year. She emphasised that TYBLI, founded and sponsored by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. T.Y. Buratai (Rtd), remains dedicated to promoting literacy through book placements and literary competitions.
“In our maiden outing in 2024, we placed the TY Buratai Book Box in three schools—one in Nasarawa State and two in the FCT. We also expanded the number of literary awards in Nigeria, birthed the largest number of winners in a single literary prize, and introduced the Forerunners and Illustrators Award to honour pioneers in Young Adult Literature (YAL) in Nigeria,” she said.
For 2025, the Chairperson unveiled several key initiatives aimed at further strengthening literary engagement across the country. These include the publication of an anthology featuring the best 10 entries from the 2024 Young Adult Literature Prize (YALP) competition, to be distributed to secondary and tertiary institutions nationwide.
In a major boost for young writers, Dr Ben-Iheanacho revealed that the grand prize for the 2025 YALP has been increased to ₦1.5 million, up from ₦1 million in 2024, courtesy of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, GCON. Additionally, winners from each of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones will now receive ₦500,000 each, doubling last year’s reward.
Other initiatives for the year, according to her, include: Placement of the TYBLI Book Box in five schools across Kaduna, Nasarawa, and the FCT; Presentation of the TYBLI Forerunners and Illustrators Award to Kola Onadipe and Frances Effiong; Publication of Volume 2 of the TYBLI Young Adult Literature Anthology featuring the top 10 2025 entries.
Dr. Ben-Iheanacho outlined the organisation’s 2025 timeline, with the call for submissions opening in April, book placements in May, and the grand award ceremony set for November 1, 2025.
Speaking on the sideline of the event, the Vice Chairman of TYBLI, Dr MS Abubakar called on stakeholders, educators, and corporate organisations to partner with TYBLI in achieving its vision of a more literate Nigeria.
He also advised the pupils and students at the event to make reading a habit, noting that “readers are leaders.”
