Tanar Educational Development Foundation

Welcome to September: The Month for Literacy Awareness
Reclaiming Our Stories, Restoring Our Earth: Literacy Awareness Month

September is Literacy Awareness Month, and this year we anchor our mission in the global theme: "Literacy for People, the Planet, and Prosperity."

At Tanar Educational Development Foundation, we believe that true literacy for the African child must extend beyond decoding foreign scripts—it must be an act of liberation and reconnection.

What does "Literacy for People, Planet, and Prosperity" mean through a Decolonial Lens?

Reclaiming Mother Tongues & Knowledge Systems

Decoloniality reminds us that literacy is not just learning to read external languages; it is learning to read the world through our own cultural heritage. When African children are taught in their indigenous mother tongues, they access deep ancestral wisdom, oral histories, and community values that colonial education systems often alienated them from.

Rooting Literacy in Our Peculiar Spaces & Planet
Indigenous knowledge systems are inherently ecological. For generations, African communities preserved local biodiversity, understood seasonal shifts, and managed natural resources through stories, proverbs, and land-based practices tied to their unique geography. Decolonial literacy arms children with the ecological wisdom needed to care for their immediate environment, protecting our planet from the ground up
Defining Authentic Prosperity
Sustainable prosperity cannot exist without cultural identity. When children are rooted in who they are and where they come from, they develop context-specific solutions to local challenges—driving economic growth and social wellbeing without sacrificing their heritage or ecosystem.
Let us raise a generation of learners who know their languages, honor their land, and write their own futures!

💬 How are you supporting mother tongue literacy and local knowledge in your community? Let us know in the comments below!

El-Mubarak Jigirya is an environmental specialist, cultural curator, and spoken word artist based in Kaduna. He is the Northern Nigeria Community Manager for SustyVibes NG, Curator of the Kaduna EcoLit Discussion, and founder of Kundin Science in Hausa.

A seasoned performer, he has shared his poetry at the Kano International Poetry Festival and Dialogue For Peace, with written work featured by The Africa Eco-anxiety Project, FAM, Ruhin Adabi, and Poetic Wednesdays Initiative.

Mubarak is thrilled to join the Read -A-create Children’s Creativity Festival as a guest performer and poetry slam judge. He will also facilitate a mini poetry class for the children.

🌟 Congratulations to the finalists of the Poetry Slam at the Read-A-Create Children’s Creativity Festival! 🌟

These bright young talents have impressed our judges and made it to the finals, where they'll be vying for the grand prize of N100,000! 🏆✨

🎤 Finalists:
- Khadija Kabir Aliyu (Nana International School, Zaria)
- Toniloba Ethan Ibitoye (Essence International School, Kaduna)
- Sa'adatu Yusuf Dogara (Girau International School)
- Testimony Ihotu Samuel (War Room School, Kaduna)
- Nana Rahmah Mansur (Zamani College, Kaduna)
- Bless Kharina-Bene David (TYK Academy, Kaduna)

We’re so proud of each and every one of them for their incredible creativity and passion for poetry. 💬🎶 Let’s cheer them on as they bring their words to life this Saturday at Ilmihouse, Kaduna! 💙

📚 Creativity and inspiration await. Don’t miss out on this celebration of young talent!

Only ✌️2 DAYS left! ⏳ 🎉

We’re on the edge of something incredible! The much-anticipated Read-A-Create Children’s Creativity Festival is nearly here - this Saturday at Ilmihouse, Kaduna. Get ready for a day filled with imagination, creativity, and inspiration for kids, parents, and teachers alike.

Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time to secure your spot. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!



Give it a go - what’s one thing you’re excited to see at the festival?

Poetry Slam Competition Finalists
Following a careful selection process, six young poets have emerged as finalists for the Read-A-Create Poetry Slam Competition. They are:
1. Khadija Kabir Aliyu
Nana International School, Zaria
2. Toniloba Ethan Ibitoye
Essence International School, Kaduna
3. Sa’adatu Yusuf Dogara
Girau International School, Kaduna
4. Testimony Ihotu Samuel
War Room School
5. Bless Kharina-Bene David
TYK Academy, Kaduna
6. Nana Rahmah Mansur
Zamani College, Kaduna

The 13 entries were judged by Bash Amuneni and Abdulbasit Adamu. The finalists will take part in two rounds of slam at the Read-A-Create Children's Creativity Festival on July 4th 2026 at Ilmihouse, Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna.
Time is 9AM to 5.30 PM

Creative Writing Competition Shortlist
The Read-A-Create Creative Writing Competition also celebrates five young writers whose stories demonstrated originality, imagination, and strong storytelling skills.

The shortlisted entries are:
1. “The Day the Talking Drum Refused to Speak”
Eldad Solomon
Starvilla School, Kaduna
2. “The Warrior”
Hauwa Mohammed
Girau International School, Kaduna
3. “We Are the Children”
Tomisin Elyssa Ibitoye
Essence International School
4. “Mister Yakubu’s Wish for the Family”
Yakubu Joseph Ritek
Rehmaville Christian Academy, Jos
5. “The Heart of the Town”
Shiphrah Chilla
Rehmaville Christian Academy, Jos
The judges will select the top three winning stories, which will be announced during the Read-A-Create Children’s Creativity Festival on July 4th.

Just 3️⃣ days to go! 🎨📚

We’re counting down to the amazing Read-A-Create Children’s Creativity Festival happening this Saturday. Don’t miss out on a day of imagination and inspiration at Ilmihouse in Kaduna!
Registration link in bio