Initiative Donates Books To Govt Secondary School Kubwa

The TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) has donated books to Government Secondary School (GSS), Kubwa, Abuja, as part of its efforts to promote a reading culture, improve literacy, and preserve Nigerian cultural values among young people.

TYBLI, a non-profit organisation founded by retired Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, is dedicated to promoting literacy, supporting emerging writers, and fostering a culture of reading among youths, particularly through Young Adult Literature (YAL).

Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the Chairperson of the Initiative, Dr. Elizabeth Ben-Iheanacho, explained that the initiative was established to encourage reading and improve literacy among Nigerian youths by making age-appropriate books readily accessible to students.

According to her, contrary to the popular belief that Nigerians do not read, many young people are eager to read but often lack access to books that interest them.

“We believe Nigerians love to read and want to read. The challenge is access to books. Through our Book Box project, we provide students with books that are interesting, educational, and relevant to their experiences,” she said.

Dr. Ben-Iheanacho noted that each TYBLI Book Box contains at least 40 carefully selected titles, many written by Nigerian authors, to help students learn about the country’s diverse cultures, values, and traditions.

She emphasised the importance of treating books as valuable community assets and urged students to borrow, read, and return them responsibly so that others could also benefit.

The TYBLI Chairperson further encouraged schools to establish reading competitions and evaluation exercises that would motivate students to engage with books and develop critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills.

She expressed concern that in some schools, books are often locked away for fear of damage, stressing that books are meant to be read and used rather than merely displayed.

Speaking on the long-term impact of the project, Dr. Ben-Iheanacho said the availability of leisure books outside the school curriculum would help students develop a lifelong love for reading.

She added that many parents are unable to purchase books beyond prescribed academic texts, making the mobile library an important resource for students seeking broader knowledge and personal development.

Responding on behalf of the school management, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Kubwa, Dr. Anderson Kola Oseh, described the donation as timely and impactful.

He said the initiative would help revive the culture of reading among students and strengthen extracurricular activities such as the school’s book club.

“This gift is phenomenal. At a time when interest in reading appears to be declining, initiatives like this are needed to revive the age-long habit of reading,” he said.

The principal assured the TYBLI team that the books would be actively utilized by students and that the school would organize activities, including quizzes and reading competitions, to encourage participation.

He further pledged that the school would seek additional books from other donors to sustain students’ interest in reading.

The event featured interactive sessions with students, presentations by school representatives, and the official handover of the TYBLI Book Box.

As part of its ongoing literacy campaign, the TYBLI team is also scheduled to visit Police Secondary School, Area 12, Abuja, on June 9 and Sure Foundation International School, Lugbe, on June 11.