Academy Press Plc and Ekenua & Co. Limited have distributed 1,500 copies of George Orwell’s Animal Farm to students in three senior secondary schools in Ilupeju, Lagos, under a new civic education initiative aimed at promoting reading and critical thinking among young people.

The book distribution marks the launch of the Million Classics Programme, a joint initiative by the two organisations, with the first phase implemented in partnership with Lagos State Education District VI. Organisers said the programme would be extended to more schools within the district in the coming weeks.

According to the organisers, participating students will read selected classic literature, take part in guided classroom discussions and submit essays for assessment by an independent panel. Outstanding participants are expected to receive cash prizes and three-year scholarships at the end of the programme, although details of the prize values and award date were not disclosed.

The launch phase is being implemented in collaboration with the office of the Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Education District VI, Mrs Mojisola Christiana Yusuff, through the district’s Reading Culture Initiative. School coordinators are also expected to organise a thematic essay competition during the long vacation to encourage students to engage more deeply with the themes of Animal Farm.

Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director of Academy Press, Oluwakemi Ogunnubi, said the programme aligns with the company’s long-standing involvement in producing educational materials for Nigerian schools, adding that it would help expand students’ access to classic literature.

Managing Director of Ekenua & Co., Osamede Okhomina, said the programme was designed to encourage critical engagement with books rather than reading for examination purposes alone, with the broader objective of developing analytical and leadership skills among students.

The organisers said the Million Classics Programme is intended to expand beyond Lagos through a proposed “State Sponsor” model, although details of the funding framework and implementation structure were not provided.

Ekenua & Co. also said its education portfolio includes the National AI Innovation Programme, which it developed in partnership with the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA).