Fostering the Flame of Literacy: Reflections on NBRP’s Second Interschool Competition

Published By Jerry Adesewo Last updated Jul 31, 2025

Fostering the Flame of Literacy: Reflections on NBRP’s Second Interschool Competition

Jerry Adesewo

Tuesday, July 29, 2025, felt like more than just another day on my calendar. It was a quiet, significant celebration of minds in bloom. Within the walls of the National Library of Nigeria’s FCT branch, something remarkable unfolded: the Second Edition of the Interschool Spelling Bee and Debate Competition, hosted by the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters (NBRP).

Beyond being a member of NBRP, I am someone passionate about literature and youth empowerment. So, attending this event was both nostalgic and inspiring, especially as I am at the verge of reviving, my book initiative, for schools: MY BOOK & I.

It wasn’t just the crisp articulation of the debaters or the confident cadence of spellers that impressed me. It was the undeniable hope they carried, the potential they radiated. In their courage to take the stage, to wrestle with words and arguments, these young Nigerians told a larger story: one of possibility, promise, and perseverance.

The event brought together six junior secondary schools from across the FCT, each fielding their brightest minds. JSS Area 10 emerged victorious, a testament not only to their academic preparation but also to the culture of encouragement that surrounded them. Meanwhile, the debate session ignited a vibrant exchange of ideas, with students defending their positions with clarity and poise, as if they had long been preparing for national discourse.

But beyond the medals and applause was a deeper achievement — the cultivation of critical thinking, confidence, and community among young learners. Mrs. Oye Omolara Margaret, a literacy advocate and NBRP Council member, who is the head of the National Library, FCT office, captured it best in her opening address when she declared, “Readers today become leaders tomorrow.” Her words weren’t just aspirational; they were prophetic.

This wasn’t merely a competition — it was a deliberate investment in Nigeria’s future. At a time when educational policies and outcomes often dominate political rhetoric but lag in action, the NBRP has consistently stepped in where it matters most: the grassroots. From creating safe spaces for children to engage ideas, to fostering networks between schools, parents, and reading advocates, the organisation continues to champion literacy not as a luxury, but as a right.

For me, the day was a moving reminder of what’s possible when communities take ownership of education. I saw teachers beam with pride, some parents record every moment on their phones, and students, wide-eyed and eager, write the first paragraphs of what will someday be their larger stories.

I left the National Library believing, more than ever, in the power of books to shape minds — and in the role of platforms like NBRP in handing over those books with intention and love.

As a guest in the room, neither judge nor organiser, but an observant participant. I was deeply moved. This was not just about winning competitions; it was about nurturing Nigeria’s most valuable natural resource: her minds.

And yet, my most memorable moment came not from the competition floor, but from a brief, delightful exchange as I was about to leave. A small group of curious students approached, one of them peering at me intensely before asking, “Are you Wole Soyinka?” The question caught me off-guard, and I smiled. “No, I’m not,” I replied, to her visible disappointment. But before I could walk away, another student chimed in, “Are you related to him then?”

And to that, with the confidence of a storyteller, I answered: “Yes! He’s a distant uncle of my mum.” That satisfied them. Their faces lit up, and they walked away with joy, as if they had touched a branch on the great literary tree of Nigeria.

In the quiet resolve of those students, in their bold declarations and nervous smiles, I saw a better Nigeria taking shape — one word at a time

Fostering the Flame of Literacy: Reflections on NBRP’s Second Interschool Competition