As part of this year’s Children’s Day celebration, the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), a humanitarian arm of the Warri Kingdom monarchy, launched the ‘Read and Reach’ edition of its flagship literacy initiative, Storytime with Mama Iwere.

The event saw the foundation donate 200 copies of Her Majesty’s self authored children’s story books to libraries and over 200 school pack essentials to the children on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 to four schools: Cavagina Primary School, International Unity School, Edah Primary School, and Akurajor Primary School across the Warri Kingdom, marking a renewed commitment to providing access to quality education and reading resources for children in underserved communities.

Further embedding cultural pride and heritage into the heart of the programme, the RIF ‘Read and Read’ edition also featured the reading of her books, The Singing Stars Find Their Beat and The Twins Holiday Adventure.

In addition, 100 outstanding pupils, 25 from each school, received special gift packages including Her Majesty’s authored storybooks and educational materials, in recognition of their academic performance and participation.

Storytime with Mama Iwere has, in the past three years, grown beyond a literacy project to a movement that is igniting curiosity, expanding vocabulary, and nurturing the cognitive and emotional development of over 1200 young learners, helping children take the first step toward becoming authors of their own lives.

Addressing the core of Storytime with Mama Iwere, Her Royal Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III said:
“Every child deserves the right to dream and the tools to chase those dreams. Storytime with Mama Iwere is more than just reading a book: it is about opening the windows of the mind, nurturing the power of imagination, and building the confidence to engage with the world. We want our children in Warri to read, learn, and lead. The Read and Reach edition is our way of saying: you are seen, you are capable, and you belong on the global stage.”

Speaking on the drive of the foundation’s mission, Project Lead, Zion Oshiobugie, said, “the mission of Royal Iwere Foundation is simple yet profound: to ensure that every child has the tools they need to succeed. Literacy is foundational, the gateway to knowledge, confidence, and leadership. And with this edition, we’re not only reading with the children, we are reaching them, right where they are.”

Storytime with Mama Iwere stands as a testament to RIF’s unwavering dedication to reshaping the narrative around education in Nigeria: one school, one child, one story at a time.