TYBLI Boosts Youth Literacy Drive, Raises Top Literary Prize to ₦2 Million
By Matthew Eloyi
The TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for 2026, including an increase in its flagship Young Adult Literature Prize to ₦2 million, as part of efforts to deepen reading culture among Nigerian youths.
Speaking at a press conference commemorating the World Book Day 2026 on Wednesday in Abuja, the Chairman of TYBLI, Dr Elizabeth Ben-Iheanacho, said the initiative is building on gains recorded since its launch in 2024.
She credited the sustained progress of the initiative to the support of its principal, Tukur Yusufu Buratai, a former Chief of Army Staff, whose vision she said continues to drive its educational and literary interventions.
Ben-Iheanacho noted that TYBLI focuses on promoting literacy through targeted engagement with young people, particularly via the development and promotion of Young Adult Literature (YAL). According to her, the initiative has adopted a three-pronged strategy: expanding access to books, recognising pioneers in the genre, and nurturing emerging writers.
She noted that as part of its outreach, TYBLI has so far installed eight “Book Boxes”, mobile libraries stocked with age-appropriate materials, in secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states, adding that plans are underway to add three more schools to the programme in June 2026.
According to Ben-Iheanacho, the initiative has also continued to honour influential contributors to youth literature through its YAL Pioneers and Illustrators Award. Past recipients include Cyprian Ekwensi in 2024 and Mohammed Sule in 2025.
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She revealed that participation in the competition has grown significantly, with submissions doubling from 51 entries in 2024 to 101 in 2025. The initiative has also published an illustrated anthology featuring the top 10 entries from the 2024 edition, which is currently being distributed to universities nationwide.
Outlining the 2026 timeline, Ben-Iheanacho announced that submissions for the prize will open in May, followed by the announcement of zonal longlists in September and the national shortlist on October 1. The awards ceremony is scheduled for October 31.
She expressed optimism that TYBLI would continue to expand its impact through collaboration with educational institutions and literary stakeholders.
Addressing the influence of digital technology, Ben-Iheanacho noted that while social media and the internet have influenced reading habits, they also present an opportunity to promote positive values.
“We cannot wish away social media, but we can domesticate it and make it serve our purposes,” she said, stressing the need to integrate traditional reading culture with modern communication platforms.
She added that countries which have successfully transitioned from low literacy levels have done so by embedding strong reading cultures that can be amplified through digital tools.
The event drew educators, writers, students and pupils from across the city, underscoring TYBLI’s growing role in shaping Nigeria’s educational and cultural landscape.
