Why do some students love reading while others avoid it completely? A classic study by scholars Allan Wigfield and John Guthrie (1997) helps answer this question, and its lessons are highly relevant for Nigerian students today. 

Children read more when they are motivated 

The researchers found that three factors strongly influence how much children read: 

1. Belief in Oneself (Self-Efficacy): When children believe they can read, they try harder and succeed more. In Nigeria, where many pupils are shy about reading aloud, building confidence is essential. 

2. Purpose for Reading: Children need a reason to read, whether to learn, enjoy a story,  impress a teacher, or understand the world. If the purpose is unclear, reading feels pointless. 

3. Social Motivation: Reading improves when classmates, teachers, or family members encourage it. Class discussions, book clubs, and storytelling circles all help. 

A Nigerian Example: How Motivation Transformed a Child 

Many teachers can relate to experiences like this: I once had a bright, talkative, and curious student who refused to read. His contributions in class were impressive, but he struggled to read independently and preferred talking to reading, as his spoken vocabulary was better than his reading and writing vocabulary. With the appropriate interventions,  encouragement, and a reward system, he began trying. Gradually, over a period of time, he became intentional and motivated to read on his own. Interestingly, he later became the school’s library prefect in his final year. This real-life example mirrors the findings of  Wigfield & Guthrie (1997): motivation is often the key that unlocks reading success.

Does Socioeconomic Status Matter? Yes, but Not Entirely 

Children from homes with limited access to books may have fewer reading opportunities.  However, the study found that motivation can overcome some of these barriers. A highly motivated child will read anything from posters, signs, newspapers, storybooks, or even social media captions. This is good news for Nigeria, where some communities may lack libraries, but creativity and resourcefulness are abundant. 

How Nigerian Schools Can Use These Insights 

1. Let Children Choose Some of Their Books: Choice increases ownership and enjoyment. 

2. Make Reading Social: Group reading, read-alouds, library competitions, and book clubs motivate children. 

3. Reward Effort, Not Perfection: Encouragement boosts confidence in early readers. 

4. Use Local Stories and Languages: Children read more when the story feels familiar to their lives. Nigerian folktales and culturally relevant texts are powerful motivators. 

5. Track Reading Progress: Simple tools like reading logs or weekly reflections help  students see improvement. 

A Word of Caution: Not All Data Are Perfect 

Wigfield & Guthrie’s study relied partly on parent’s reports of how much their children  read. Parent reports are sometimes inaccurate. Still, the general pattern was clear:  motivated children read more. 

Why Nigerian Students Should Care 

Reading is not only about passing exams. It builds vocabulary, boosts academic  performance, and opens doors to new opportunities. Whether a student hopes to become  a doctor, lawyer, engineer, artist, or entrepreneur, reading is a foundational skill. But  children need more than textbooks; they need motivation, confidence, choice, and  encouragement.

References 

Wang, X. (2015, Chapter 2). Understanding Language and Literacy Development: Diverse  Learners in the Classroom (1st ed). Wiley-Blackwell 

Wigfield, A., & Guthrie, J. T. (1997). Relations of children’s motivation for reading to the  amount and breadth or their reading. Journal of Educational Psychology, 89(3), 420–432.  https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.89.3.420 

Temidayo is a Reading Specialist and Interventionist.