In a bid to restore the fading glory of Nigeria’s three major languages – Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba – Ibadan-based Accessible Publishers Ltd has embarked on the groundbreaking Nigeria Literacy Book Adaptation Project. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Kenya-based Room to Read organisation, aimed at making translated books in these languages accessible to teachers and students, thereby igniting a love for mother tongues among youths.
The project was launched at a workshop in Ibadan, which brought together Nigerian translation and linguistic scholars, educational experts, and government officials. The four-member Room to Read team, led by Regional Operations Director for Africa, Collins Munene, was present to kick-start the project. Other dignitaries in attendance included representatives from the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).
In his opening remarks, Accessible Publishers’ Managing Director, Gbadega Adedapo, described the initiative as a movement that would reshape Nigeria’s educational narrative, renew its linguistic heritage, and rekindle the love of reading among children. He commended Room to Read for choosing to collaborate with Accessible Publishers, citing the organisation’s commitment to making quality education accessible and affordable for every Nigerian learner.
Adedapo highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration, noting that it was a partnership bound by a shared vision to provide quality education to all children. He praised Room to Read for recognising the significance of local languages and indigenous cultures in learning, and for its commitment to publishing storybooks in Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The Accessible Publishers MD also appreciated Room to Read’s gender-sensitive approach to literacy, which prioritises the education of the girl-child.
The workshop brought together a team of language experts, including Professor Tyjani Shehu Almajir, Dr. Nwagbo Osita Gerald, Dr. Suleeyman Hamisu Aliyu, Mrs. Abdulazeez Umma Sa’ade, Dr. Aboderin Oluwakemi Adebisi, Dr. Clement Adeniyi Akangbe, and Dr. Ebele Okafor. These experts shared their views on the imperative of the exercise, noting that it should have started years ago. They, however, welcomed the initiative and pledged to work together to produce high-quality, culturally relevant storybooks for Nigerian children.
Dr. Akangbe praised the collaboration between Room to Read and Accessible Publishers, describing it as a model for future literacy development initiatives in Nigeria. He noted that the partnership had brought together a diverse team of language experts, educators, and publishing professionals in a structured and inclusive environment.
The language experts also shared their plans to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from the workshop. Dr. Gerald, for instance, planned to launch a student writers’ club focused on producing children’s literature in Nigerian languages. Mrs. Abdulazeez, on the other hand, intended to infuse the learnings from the workshop into her university lectures and writing practice, with a focus on creating more Hausa children’s books that are pedagogically sound and culturally grounded.
As the workshop came to a close, Adedapo reiterated the importance of literacy in shaping the future of Nigerian children. “Literacy is not a luxury, it is a lifeline,” he said.
“It is the ladder from poverty to possibility, from obscurity to opportunity. With every page we produce and every child we reach, we turn the tide toward progress.” The Nigeria Literacy Book Adaptation Project is a significant step towards promoting literacy and cultural heritage in Nigeria, and it is expected to have a lasting impact on the country’s educational landscape.
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