Million Classics Programme
More than
books.
What it is
A complete learning experience for Nigerian secondary school students — built around a classic text, and the cycle of reading, reflection, writing and recognition that follows.
The Launch Cycle — Lagos, from 15 June 2026
The Programme
What the Programme Delivers
The Million Classics Programme is not a book donation campaign. Books matter, but they are only the starting point.
Each Programme Cycle delivers a complete learning experience: students receive a classic text, teachers guide discussion, students write original essays, independent judges assess their work, winners are recognised, scholarships are awarded, and sponsors receive documented evidence of learning, engagement and impact.
The Programme is therefore best understood not by the number of books distributed, but by the quality of the reading, reflection, writing, recognition and reporting it enables.
Read more about the Launch Cycle →The Programme Framework
Five Pillars. One Programme Cycle.
Reading
A classic text in every participating student's hands.
The Programme places a copy of a chosen classic text into the hands of every student in every participating school. The Launch Cycle text is Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Reflection
Structured discussion in every school.
Required, facilitated discussion sessions are held in every participating school during the reading window. Teachers guide; students lead the thinking.
Writing
Original essays under defined parameters.
Every student in the cohort has the opportunity to submit an original essay. Submissions are anonymised at intake and logged centrally.
Recognition
Independent judging. Named winners. Real prizes.
Submissions are judged by an independent panel against a published rubric. Winners receive cash prizes and three-year scholarships, awarded at a public Awards event.
Reporting
Documented evidence, delivered to sponsors.
Every cycle produces a written impact report, a content library, and a sponsor-facing case study — substantiated by Programme data and shared within thirty days of the Awards event.
First Programme Cycle
Launching 15 June 2026The Launch Cycle: Lagos
The Launch Cycle is the foundational cycle of the Million Classics Programme. Delivered jointly by Ekenua & Co. Limited and Academy Press PLC across five public secondary schools in Lagos State, it runs for thirteen weeks from 15 June 2026, culminating in an Awards Dinner on 13 September 2026 at which three named winners will receive cash prizes and three-year scholarships. The Launch Cycle is the proving ground for the operating standards that will govern every subsequent Programme Cycle.
Learn more about the Launch Cycle→Schools
5 public secondary schools in Lagos State
Cohort
Senior Secondary (SS1–SS3) students
Text
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Cycle Length
13 weeks; Awards Dinner 13 September 2026
Delivery Partners
A Partnership Built for Delivery
Programme Strategy & Delivery
Ekenua & Co. Limited
Ekenua & Co. Limited is a London-headquartered firm specialising in instructional design, donor engagement and project execution. Operating between London and Lagos, the firm leads Programme strategy, school engagement, monitoring and evaluation, sponsor management and end-to-end delivery.
Production & Logistics
Academy Press PLC
Academy Press PLC is one of Nigeria's leading publishing firms and a publicly-listed company, with over six decades of experience and the capacity to print millions of books annually. Academy Press provides the print run, warehousing and primary logistics for the Programme.
The Launch Cycle is sponsored jointly by Ekenua & Co. Limited and Academy Press PLC, operating as a joint venture under a formal Cooperation Agreement, with a Steering Committee overseeing delivery and finances.
Sponsorship
Sponsor the Programme
Sponsors back complete Programme Cycles. Six tiers, structured so that supporters at every scale can find a meaningful role.
Sponsorship
Founding Sponsor
The Programme's lead partner. One per cycle. Most visible position.
Sponsorship
State Sponsor
Back a complete Programme Cycle in a chosen state. The Programme's primary scale mechanism.
Sponsorship
Programme Sponsor
Back the Programme as a whole, with recognition across all cycles.
Sponsorship
Scholarship Sponsor
Fund the three-year scholarships awarded to cycle winners.
Sponsorship
School Sponsor
Back a single named school within a Programme Cycle.
Sponsorship
Sponsor a Reader
Fund one student's Programme experience. The most accessible tier.
Signals
Updates from
the Programme.
Dispatches, cycle updates and notes from the field. The first signals publish when the Launch Cycle begins on 15 June 2026.
Follow the Programme
Follow the Programme
The Launch Cycle begins on 15 June 2026. Follow us for cycle updates, student voices, and the Awards Dinner in September.