On the morning of May 28, 2025, Baptist Primary School in Bode-Ijaye, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, was full of life. Children were laughing, teachers were smiling, and you could feel the excitement in the air — it was Children’s Day, and AIFA Reading Society was ready to make it special.
This wasn’t just any celebration. For the fifth year in a row, we came with one goal — to make books more than just pages, but gifts of hope, imagination, and endless possibilities.
Before the big day, we got approval from the Ogun State Ministry of Education to bring our reading activities to over 200 pupils. We found storybooks that matched their age, planned fun literacy games, and prepared more than 200 goody packs — each with a book and some snacks. Our team arrived the night before to set up and make sure everything was ready.
We started the day with a storytelling session from our special guest, Ms. Kafayat Lawal, who changed her schedule just to join us. Her storytelling brought the characters to life, and the children listened with wide eyes. Next was the Spelling Bee Challenge, where pupils had fun while building their confidence. Cheers and claps filled the air as classmates encouraged each other.
When it was time to share the goody packs, the children’s reactions were priceless. Some hugged their books tightly, while others couldn’t wait to start reading. Our face painting corner, run by talented volunteer Ms. Toluwani, added even more colour to the day.
The joy was everywhere, and you could see it in the children’s laughter, in the warm “thank yous” from the teachers, and in the sense of togetherness we all felt. But beyond the fun, the day reminded us of something important: many schools still lack enough books and resources. That’s why we at AIFA Reading Society are committed to doing more, reaching more children, and making sure no child is left behind when it comes to reading.
We couldn’t have done this without our donors, volunteers, and partners who believe in the power of books.
If you’d like to support our work — by sponsoring, volunteering, or partnering — we’d be happy to welcome you to the AIFA family. Together, we can build a future where every child has a story to read, a dream to chase, and the tools to make it happen.
