TYBLI Unveils 2025 Initiatives to Promote Reading Culture Among Nigerian Students

Sahara Weekly Reports That The TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) has launched its 2025 activities aimed at fostering a stronger reading culture among Nigerian students.

The initiative, founded and sponsored by Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.), seeks to enhance literacy, encourage creative writing, and reward young literary talents across the country.

Speaking at a press briefing, Dr. Lizi Ben-Theanacho, Chairperson of TYBLI, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advancing literacy through book placements and literary prizes.

“Our foundational mandate is to contribute to a more literate Nigeria through book placements, ensuring quality, age-appropriate leisure reading materials for youths. Further, we exist to incubate literary potential through the TYBLI Young Adult Literature Prize (YALP). “TYBLI is an educational outreach and community give-back service initiated and sponsored by Lt. General TY Buratai (Rtd.),” she stated.

Reflecting on the successes of 2024, Dr. Ben-Theanacho highlighted key milestones, including the placement of TY Buratai Book Boxes in three schools—one in Nasarawa State and two in the FCT—and the expansion of literary awards in Nigeria.

She noted that the organization created the largest number of winners for a single literary prize in Nigeria, pushing the boundaries of creative recognition and reward. As part of its 2025 agenda, TYBLI plans to build on these achievements with a series of new initiatives: Publication of an Anthology: The best 10 entries from the 2024 YALP competition will be compiled and published at no cost to the participants, with copies distributed to secondary and tertiary institutions nationwide. Increased Prize Money: The Grand Prize for the 2025 YALP winner has been raised from ₦1 million to ₦1.5 million, thanks to sponsorship from Amb. Babagana Kingibe, GCON, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Additionally, each of the six geopolitical zone winners will receive ₦500,000, doubling the previous amount. Expanded Book Placements: TYBLI will place Book Boxes in five more schools, spanning Kaduna, Nasarawa, and the FCT.

Forerunners and Illustrators Award: This year’s honorees include Kola Onadipe and Frances Effiong, both pioneers in Young Adult Literature (YAL) in Nigeria. 2025 Timeline of Activities February 2025 – Flag-off Press Conference April 2025 – Call for YALP 2025 Submissions May 2025 – Book Placement Exercise June 2025 – YALP Submission Deadline July 2025 – Unveiling of Judges August 2025 – Announcement of Longlist September 2025 – Shortlist Adjudication October 2025 – Final Shortlist Announcement November 1, 2025 – Grand Winner Announcement & Award Ceremony.

Dr. Ben-Theanacho called on corporate organizations, government agencies, and individuals to support the initiative. “We are making an impact one reader at a time, transforming literary fortunes six winners at a time. With clarity and focus, we will continue working towards a more literate Nigeria as a vehicle for social transformation. Please partner with us,” she urged.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. M.S. Abubakar, Vice President of TYBLI, lamented the decline of reading habits among Nigerian youths, attributing it to the proliferation of digital entertainment and mobile gadgets. “It is a sorry state. People now prefer to watch movies instead of reading books. If you mention Things Fall Apart, they ask for the movie instead of the book. Unfortunately, there is no way you can compare reading with watching,” he said. Dr. Abubakar emphasized the need for early reading habits among children, noting that failure to cultivate such habits at a young age could have long-term consequences.

“Someone once said, ‘If you want to hide something from an average Nigerian, put it inside a book.’ But readers are leaders. This initiative should be encouraged and sustained,” he added. He also praised Lt. Gen. Buratai for his commitment to the literary initiative and urged more wealthy Nigerians to invest in literary development, similar to the way industrialists like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford funded educational projects in developed nations.

The Mass deportation scheme of the American president Donald Trump has been greeted with mass criticism as many believes that Trump is rather being too harsh with his policies with over 10 million migrants facing the risk of deportation, the president of Pentecostal Ministers Forum and the foundation of Kings In Christ Power Ministries International, Bishop Chidi Anthony has applauded Trump for his actions stating that it’s to the boon of the American nation

Speaking to newsmen from his residence in Lagos, the president enunciated that it’s necessary for Trump to take such drastic measure in order for the nation of America not to collapse and maintain her status as a major world power “what Trump is doing is necessary,do you know how many people comes into America everyday,I think this is necessary in order to preserve the status of America as the number one nation of the world, criminals and unwanted people need to be flushed out of America”

He maintained that Americans love what Trump is about to do as it was one of the things he used for campaign in order to be truiphant in the election “Trump made a promise to carry out the largest deportation in the history of America,he used it as a tool to win the election,if Americans didn’t like what he wanted to do,they wouldn’t have voted for him,i must confess that every true American will definitely like what Trump is about to do,i know he loves America and he knows what is good for the nation of America”

The president of PMF also ascribed Nigeria’s security problems to foreigners and illegal immigrants who infiltrated the country to unleash chaos and havoc on Nigerians ” as a Nigerian and a clergyman,I stand tall to assert that foreigners from neighbouring nations are responsible for 80% of the security threat we have in this country, Nigerians are very loving people,the brutality, savagery, cruelty, bloodthirstiness, ferocity and barbarity you have been witnessing is not by Nigerians,i wish our government can emulate Trump and flush out the foreigners who are in this nation to bring calamity,if they can do that,i guarantee you that insecurity will reduce drastically if not stop totally”

“Gànú” is considered an
abusive word in Yoruba land. I am not supporting Wasiu Ayinde (K1) But we Muslims need to talk to ourselves. A reasonable person wouldn’t go where he or she was not invited. After all the late Wasiu Ayinde s (K1) mother was not a practicing Muslim when she was alive

I am a practicing Muslim I spend Millions of Naira yearly to promote Islam every year but I don’t joke with my Tradition as a Yoruba man and a royal born

Personally, I don’t listen to his music, as Wasiu Ayinde (K1) is not my favorite musician.

However, to be truthful, Wasiu Ayinde (K1) was clearly disappointed when he met Alfa in his house instead of his father’s house, where the prayer for his mother was supposed to take place. The mistake he made was in the choice of language.

But I am highly surprised and disappointed seeing almost every notable Islamic scholar fighting and threatening Wasiu Ayinde (K1) on Social media because of the abusive words instead of preaching for him as a Muslim

Where are you people when some Islamic scholars like Imam of Iwo. Imam Ogbomosho and Mr Rasheed of Iwo were abusing our Traditional Rulers and traditions? I personally started calling him Mr Rasheed since the day he opened his head to the general public because it is against the Yoruba traditions and culture when he was a king but he became an ordinary person immediately he opened he head

Where were you people when Imam of Saki was disrespectful to the King (Oba) of Saki?

Where were you when one of our Islamic scholars called (Ooni of Ife) to deburk what he didn’t know or Say publicly is that not an abuse to the Royalty and to the Yoruba’s?

It’s surprising seeing Islamic scholars dragging supremacy with the king (Oba) in a community not even a Chief or Baale but with a King is that not an insult?

Have you ever seen a pastor disrespecting any of Yoruba traditional rulers? Why are we Muslims always?

They respect themselves and Yoruba traditional rulers and it’s hard to see any reasonable Yoruba’s to disrespect any Pastor

If some Islamic scholars. Alfa refused to stop disrespecting Yoruba traditional rulers some Yoruba’s are still coming out to disrespect some of you publicly because only a bastard Yoruba born will be happy seeing any Religious leaders disrespecting their Traditional Rulers expecially in Yorubaland we don’t joke with our Traditional Rulers

Anyway, if all these Islamic scholars put the same energy into fighting for the citizens by addressing issues like Ritualists, Corruption, Cultism and other evil activities happening in Nigeria, our nation would undoubtedly be one of the best in the world

Wasiu Ayinde (K1) Might apologize tomorrow but the deed has done. All I know is that nobody can disrespect Yoruba traditional Rulers and go freely there must be reward

Security Expert/Surv
Prince Amb (Dr) Adedipe Dauda Ewenla
Nis Psu DiL Bsc Msc