The TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) has shortlisted six successful contenders for its literary prize, selected from 106 entries that were received for the 2025 Young Adult Literature writing competition. 

The winners include Adoo Gyuur (North Central), Daniel Yohanna (North East), ER Umukoro (South South), Ikemefuna Chinenyike Lawrence Ezemagu (South East), Sarah Yousuph (South West) and Yusrah Bashir Gaga (North West).

In a statement Wednesday by the management, the TYBLI said another shortlist of three winners will be announced before the Grand Prize and Awards ceremony slated for November 1, this year.

TYBLI is a non‐profit project with the mission of promoting literacy, fostering a culture of reading and supporting young writers, particularly in the genre of Young Adult Literature (YAL). It is an educational outreach and community give-back service initiated and sponsored by Lt. General TY Buratai (Rtd.).

One of the key activities of the initiative is the Book Placement program whereby mini-libraries are created in the form of “book boxes.” Beneficiaries of the initiative are normally underserved schools, aimed at improving their access to age-appropriate leisure reading materials. In 2024, TYBLI placed book boxes in three schools across Nasarawa state and the FCT. 

Chairperson of the initiative, Dr Lizi Ben-Iheanacho, expressed appreciation to all 106 entrants while calling on them not to give up. She described their contributions as valuable, noting that even if a work is not shortlisted, TYBLI encourages the young adults to continue writing.