When most children prefer watching cartoons or playing games on TV and other digital platforms, a nine-year-old boy, Master Osaivbie Izedonmwen, has taken an interest in reading books instead.

Izedonmwen is in primary four at Hampton Preparatory School, Lekki, Lagos.

To this end, he has set a goal for himself: to read with understanding, a total of 200 books this year, and also to campaign among his peers and older children about why they will need to invest more time in reading.

However, the schoolboy started the challenge in January and is now reviewing the books he has read via his Instagram page, “Read with Us,” while intensifying the practice.

Furthermore, the boy has now taken the Read with Us challenge a step further by organising a book and toy donation drive so as to reach many children.

On this drive, Izedonmwen, along with his elder brother, Oghosa Izedonmwen, went to a church in Lagos on Easter Sunday, donated over 100 books to children there, and also encouraged them to invest more time in reading.

The boy expressed optimism about sustaining the donation and making it a yearly exercise.

Izedonmwen started reading at the age of three and believes every child should read with interest and pleasure, as he does.

He said, “I love reading, and it’s an exciting thing for me. It’s like watching a movie in my head and getting lots of inspiration from the act.”

The young boy hopes to get more book donations and be able to reach many more children who can’t afford to buy books.

According to his mother, Taiye Osayi-Izedonmwen, the boy is very committed to reading books.

She explained that most of the books her son donated were old books he used in junior classes, plus the ones he received from family members and friends through his book donation drive.

While declaring that the books are useful for both primary and secondary school students, Mrs Osayi-Izedonmwen pointed out that it was not as if her son does not watch cartoons or play games, but that he prefers reading books to any of them.

She, however, promised to support the boy’s love for reading in any way she could. (Nigerian Tribune)

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