More than 500 pupils in Rivers State are set to benefit from the Sun Books Literacy Initiative, launched yesterday by Heirs Energies Limited and the World Literacy Foundation (WLF) to mark World Literacy Day 2025.
The pupils, drawn from Central State Primary School, Omuohia-Igwuruta, and Umuebulu Primary School, Umuebulu, both in Heirs Energies’ OML 17 host communities, will receive solar-powered Sun Books tablets preloaded with curriculum-aligned content and interactive learning modules. Solar panels will also be installed in the schools to ensure steady electricity for classrooms and devices.
The intervention comes as UNESCO estimates that one in three Nigerian children cannot read or write at the expected level by age 10. Globally, more than 770 million people still lack basic literacy skills, with rural children and girls most affected.
The Sun Books programme is designed to bridge these gaps by providing offline-first digital learning tools suitable for low-infrastructure communities. Teachers in the pilot schools will also undergo training to integrate digital literacy into classroom instruction.
Originally piloted in Uganda, the programme has already reached 17,000 children, trained 280 teachers, and supported over 48,000 families across Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.
Reaffirming the company’s long-term vision, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Heirs Energies, Osa Igiehon, said their investment in literacy is an investment in the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.
“As an integrated energy company, we know that renewable and sustainable energy must serve a greater purpose — building stronger, more resilient communities. This initiative reflects our Africapitalism philosophy – creating social good while delivering economic value. With Sun Books, we are empowering children to dream beyond their circumstances and equipping teachers with tools to make learning engaging and inclusive,” he said.
