N2m Up for Grabs as TY Buratai Literary Initiative Rolls Out 2026 Activities

N2m Up for Grabs as TY Buratai Literary Initiative Rolls Out 2026 Activities

By Jamila Muhammad, Gombe

The Chairman of the TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI), Dr Elizabeth Ben-Iheanacho, has unveiled an expanded plan for the organisation’s 2026 programmes, announcing an increase in its headline literary prize to N2 million.

She made the disclosure on Wednesday during a press briefing at the City Library in Abuja, where she reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to strengthening reading culture among young Nigerians through strategic educational and literary interventions.

Ben-Iheanacho noted that TYBLI, founded by Tukur Yusuf Buratai, continues to focus on literacy development, youth empowerment, and the advancement of Young Adult Literature (YAL) as a platform for building values, creativity, and critical thinking among teenagers.

According to her, the 2026 agenda is aimed at consolidating achievements recorded since the initiative’s launch in 2024, particularly in widening access to books and nurturing emerging literary talents.

“We are leveraging the successes of the past two years to expand our footprint and deepen our engagement with schools and literary communities nationwide,” she said.

She identified three major pillars driving TYBLI’s interventions: the introduction of mobile “Book Boxes” in secondary schools, recognition of pioneers in Young Adult Literature, and the Young Adult Literature Prize designed to discover and reward new voices.

So far, eight Book Boxes have been installed in schools across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states, with plans underway to extend the programme to more schools in 2026.

The initiative has also honoured notable literary figures, including Cyprian Ekwensi in 2024 and Mohammed Sule in 2025, for their contributions to the development of youth literature in Nigeria.

Ben-Iheanacho disclosed that participation in the TYBLI literary prize has continued to grow, with entries increasing from 51 in 2024 to 101 in 2025, reflecting rising interest among young writers.

“As part of our efforts to further inspire creativity, we have increased the grand prize for the national winner to N2 million, up from N1.5 million last year,” she said.

She added that an anthology featuring the top entries from the 2024 edition has been published and is currently being distributed to tertiary institutions across the country to support teaching and research in literary studies.

Providing details of the 2026 schedule, she said entries for the Young Adult Literature Prize will open in May, while additional Book Boxes will be deployed in June. The longlist of zonal winners will be released in September, followed by the shortlist on October 1, with the final awards ceremony slated for October 31.

She thanked partners and stakeholders for their continued support, calling for sustained collaboration to advance the initiative’s goal of raising a new generation of readers and writers.

In recent years, TYBLI has continued to gain recognition as an emerging platform for youth-centred literary development, complementing broader national efforts to promote education and creative expression.