Accessible Publishers Ltd has partnered with Kenya’s Room to Read organisation to launch the Nigeria Literacy Book Adaptation Project in a significant effort to preserve Nigeria’s linguistic heritage. This initiative by the Ibadan-based publisher aims to translate literary works into Nigeria’s three major indigenous languages – Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba – making them accessible to students and teachers while fostering appreciation for mother tongues among young Nigerians.
The project builds on Accessible Publishers’ successful launch of Accessible Studybase, an online learning platform introduced last year to enhance educational experiences for educators, students, and administrators.
The formal launch took place in Ibadan, bringing together Nigerian translation and linguistic scholars alongside a delegation from Room to Read. The international team included Collins Munene (Regional Operations Director for Africa), Zamaradi Saidi (Global Director, Gender Equity), Tutus Kazungu (Associate Director, Literacy), and Alison Ziki (Associate Director – Publishing).
Representatives from key national educational bodies attended, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and various State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs). Government officials from multiple states and educational planners also participated, highlighting the project’s national significance.
Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, Managing Director and CEO of Accessible Publishers Ltd, described the initiative as “igniting a movement that holds the power to reshape our educational narrative, renew our linguistic heritage, and rekindle the flame of reading among our children.”
Adedapo praised Room to Read’s selection process, noting: “We are humbled by the trust your organization has placed in us, following your rigorous assessment of potential Nigerian partners. This recognition affirms our longstanding dedication to excellence in educational publishing.”
For over two decades, Accessible Publishers has pursued making quality education accessible and affordable for every Nigerian learner, regardless of location or status.
The partnership emphasises Room to Read’s commitment to creating a world where all children can access quality education and reach their full potential. Adedapo highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration, calling it “a partnership written in purpose and bound by vision.”
He particularly commended Room to Read’s focus on local languages and indigenous cultures: “Your commitment to publishing storybooks in Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba reflects not only linguistic inclusiveness but also cultural affirmation. This opportunity will allow our children to see their worlds mirrored in literature, their names, their proverbs, their folktales, not as afterthoughts, but as centrepieces of learning.”
The project also embraces Room to Read’s gender-sensitive approach to literacy, with particular attention to girl-child education, embodying their motto: “Creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. By placing books in her hands, you place destiny in her reach.”
The workshop assembled distinguished language experts to lead translation efforts:
Hausa Language Experts:
– Professor Tyjani Shehu Almajir Osita Gerald (Bayero University, Kano)
– Dr. Suleeyman Hamisu Aliyu (Federal College of Education, Abeokuta)
– Mrs. Abdulazeez Umma Sa’ade (Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo)
Igbo Language Experts:
– Dr. Nwagbo Osita Gerald (University of Lagos)
– Dr. Ebele Okafor (University of Lagos)
Yoruba Language Experts:
– Dr. Aboderin Oluwakemi Adebisi (Tai Solarin University of Education)
– Dr. Clement Adeniyi Akangbe (University of Ibadan)
These linguistic experts unanimously agreed that while the initiative was long overdue, the current timing remains crucial for Nigeria’s educational development.
Dr. Akangbe praised the partnership’s effectiveness: “The collaboration between Room to Read and Accessible Publishers Ltd was highly effective and well-coordinated. It brought together a diverse team of language experts, educators, and publishing professionals in a structured and inclusive environment.”
He noted that Room to Read contributed technical expertise and international best practices, while Accessible Publishers provided essential local knowledge and implementation capacity. “Together, they created a platform where quality and contextual relevance were prioritized, ensuring that the final products met global literacy standards while remaining authentically Nigerian.”
Mrs. Abdulazeez described the comprehensive training received: “The training provided a wealth of insights that cut across literacy theory, cultural adaptation, and child psychology. I found the sessions on narrative structure for early readers and culturally sensitive illustration particularly enlightening.”
She plans to integrate these learnings into her university lectures and writing practice, emphasizing localized storytelling in cognitive development and creating more Hausa children’s books that are both pedagogically sound and culturally grounded.
Dr. Gerald outlined his expanded vision following the workshop: “I have learnt how to mentor students in creative writing projects specifically for early-grade readers in Igbo. My colleagues and I are planning to launch a student writers’ club focused on producing children’s literature in Nigerian languages.”
He aims to develop culturally embedded storybooks for children in Igbo that reflect both urban and rural realities, including intergenerational relationships – an underexplored theme in Nigerian children’s literature.
Adedapo concluded with a powerful call to action for cultural custodians, translators, educators, and knowledge bearers, urging them to view their work as “a gift to this generation and a legacy to the next.”
He emphasised literacy’s fundamental importance: “Literacy is not a luxury, it is a lifeline. 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 represents a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s educational landscape, promising to preserve and invigorate the nation’s linguistic and cultural identity for generations to come. This collaborative effort between international expertise and local knowledge creates a sustainable model for literacy development that honors Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage while meeting global educational standards.
•Featured image: Gbadega Adedapo/ courtesy Accessible Publishers Ltd
