At just 12 years old, Nigerian literacy advocate Ashezi Akwashiki is already using her passion for books to help other children discover the joy of reading and learning.
Ashezi is the founder of Book Buddies by Ashezi Initiative, a literacy-focused organisation she started at the age of nine to encourage reading among children, particularly those in underserved and displaced communities.
What began as a personal love for books has grown into an initiative reaching thousands of children through book donations, reading sessions, school visits and other literacy activities.
Her work has also taken her beyond Nigeria. In 2025, Ashezi spoke at the World Literacy Summit at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, where she highlighted the importance of giving children access to the tools and opportunities they need to learn and shape their future.
From Books to Bytes
Ashezi is now expanding the conversation around literacy through the Book Buddies Literacy and Future Festival, themed “From Books to Bytes: Reading, Creating and Shaping the Future.”
The festival brings together children from Upper Primary to Year 9 for activities focused on reading, creativity, critical thinking and emerging technologies.
The programme features a Spelling Bee, a children’s panel exploring artificial intelligence and the future of learning, and a 30-minute Future Challenge designed to encourage participants to think creatively about the world ahead.
Poetry, spoken-word performances, children’s presentations and recognition of young changemakers are also part of the programme.
Building a Community Library
Beyond the festival, Book Buddies is working to establish a permanent learning space for children in Kuchingoro through the Kuchingoro Community Library Fund.
The initiative has secured a 20-foot container at Sharing Prosperity School in Kuchingoro, with more than 1,000 books already donated towards the project.
The space is expected to be transformed into a functional community library where children can read, explore new ideas and develop their creativity.
For Ashezi, the journey from starting a literacy initiative at nine to reaching thousands of children demonstrates what young people can achieve when they are given the opportunity to turn their ideas into action.
Her story also highlights the growing role of children and young people in creating solutions to challenges within their communities, with literacy remaining at the heart of her work.
