Firms Launch Million Classic Initiative to Drive Civic Education

Academy Press and Ekenua & Co. Limited have launched the 'Million Classics Programme,' a new Nigerian initiative focused on civic education for secondary school students. This program uses globally recognized literary classics to cultivate critical thinking, moral reasoning, and leadership qualities among young Nigerians.

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The Million Classics Programme is an ambitious and important undertaking, and we are proud to be founding it in partnership with Ekenua & Co. Placing the world’s great classics into the hands of Nigerian secondary school students – beginning today in Lagos – is exactly the kind of work we believe our industry should be doing.

Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogunnubi, Managing Director of Academy Press, highlighted the company's long history of printing educational materials in Nigeria. She expressed pride in co-founding the ambitious program, stating, "Placing the world’s great classics into the hands of Nigerian secondary school students – beginning today in Lagos – is exactly the kind of work we believe our industry should be doing."

Osamede Okhomina, Managing Director of Ekenua & Co., emphasized the program's core belief: "Our students can read. What we owe them is the chance to think – carefully, critically, and for themselves." He added that the program is built on the conviction that great books, combined with active engagement, are essential tools for developing a generation of Nigerian readers who become thinkers and leaders.

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Our students can read. What we owe them is the chance to think – carefully, critically, and for themselves. The programme is built on the belief that great books, paired with real engagement, are among the most effective tools we have for building a generation of Nigerian readers who become thinkers, and thinkers who become leaders.

The initial phase of the program involves distributing 1,500 copies of George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' to students in three senior secondary schools in Ilupeju, Lagos. This launch is supported by the Lagos State Tutor-General’s office for Education District VI, with the program aiming to expand across the country.

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We are grateful for the cooperation of the Lagos State Tutor-General’s office for Education District VI, and for the commitment of our partner schools, educators and supporters who share our belief that access to great books, paired with structured engagement, can broaden perspectives and shape lifelong learning.