TYBLI flags off 2025 programmes to boost literacy among Nigerian youths
By Godwin Okondo
THE TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) flagged off its 2025 programme of activities at Adam’s Pages Bookstore in Wuse 2, Abuja. The Chairman of TYBLI, Dr. Elizabeth Ben-Iheanacho, outlined plans aimed at promoting literacy and nurturing literary talent among Nigerian youths. Dr. Ben-Iheanacho stated that the initiative, sponsored by Lt. General T.Y. Buratai (rtd), seeks to enhance Nigeria’s literacy levels by placing quality, age-appropriate leisure reading materials in schools and by administering the TYBLI Young Adult Literature Prize (YALP).
“Our mandate is to contribute to a more literate Nigeria by ensuring access to books and by incubating literary potentials,” she said.
The chairman recapped TYBLI achievements in 2024, saying they included the placement of TY Buratai Book Box in three schools—one in Nasarawa State and two in the Federal Capital Territory—as well as the expansion of literary awards and the introduction of Forerunners and Illustrators Award. She noted that 2024 also witnessed the largest number of winners for a single literary prize in Nigeria. Grand prize winner of YALP 2024 was Taofeek Olatunbosun while zonal winners were Taofeek Olatunbosun (South West), Michael Igbonekwu (South East), Siman Essen (South South), Yohanna S. Daniel (North East), Hajara M. Bashar (North Central) and Bilqisa Abubakar (North West). City novella expert Cyprian Ekwensi received posthumous TYBLI Forerunners Award while Bruce Onobrakpeya got the Illustrators Award.
For 2025, the initiative announced several new measures, such as the publication of the best 10 entries from 2024 in an anthology to be distributed at no cost to secondary and tertiary institutions. There would also be an increase in the cash prize for the YALP grand winner from ₦1,000,000 in 2024 to ₦1,500,000 in 2025, with support from Amb. Babagana Kingibe. There would also be an allocation of ₦500,000 each for winners from the six geo-political zones, marking a 100% increase in that category, and placement of the TYBLI Book Box in five additional schools across Kaduna, Nasarawa and the FCT.
Anew addition is the presentation of TYBLI Forerunners and Illustrators Award to Kola Onadipe and Frances Effiong, and publication of Volume 2 of the TYBLI YAL Anthology featuring the top 10 entries.
Dr. Ben-Iheanacho also outlined the timeline for the 2025 programme, beginning with the flag-off press conference in February. In April, the call for YALP 2025 submissions will be announced, followed by book placements in May. Submissions will close in June, and the panel of judges will be unveiled in July.
The longlist of zonal winners will be announced in August, with adjudication for the shortlist taking place in September. The shortlist will be revealed in October, leading up to the announcement of the grand winner and the award ceremony on November 1, 2025.
Dr. Ben-Iheanacho further emphasised TYBLI’s commitment to engaging Nigerian youths through literacy and literary advocacy, adding, “We are making an impact one reader at a time and transforming literary fortunes through our awards,” she said, urging stakeholders and partners to support the initiative.
TYBLI’s 2025 programme represents a continued effort to drive social transformation through literacy among youths and to foster a vibrant literary culture across Nigeria.
Dr. Elizabeth Ben-Iheanacho
Other members of the board present were Vice Chairman Dr. Mohammed Sani, Secretary Om’Oba Jerry Adesewo, Hajia Fatima Usara, Mr. John Freeman Ondoma and representatives of Association of Nigerian Authors on the board.
