Readon Initiative

Readon initiative is aimed at addressing illiteracy and promoting reading culture of school age children in hard-to-reach communities in Nigeria.

The initiative operates an online-bookstore in a web/mobile App which features academic and literature books according to the age-range of children in the communities we work. It features a database of different hard-to-reach communities and the age range of children in these communities. The platform enables individuals anywhere in the world who have access to the internet to buy particular books for a particular number of children and community using an online payment system. The team ensures purchase and distribution to the children. The online platform notifies the sponsors whenever their donations reach the hands of the children. The platform also has a feature for recommending books. These could be uploaded after verification. Individuals can also volunteer as reading guides through the portal and sent to these communities to help the children to master the act of reading. The reading guides help the children to complete reading of books, do summaries and upload them on the platform for review. Submissions that are impressive are invited to a hybrid book-review session  organized by the initiative and held once-a-month for a specified book.

Worldwide, about 258 million children and youth are out of school (UIS data for the school year ending, 2018). In Nigeria, where primary education is officially free and compulsory, about 10.5 million of the country’s children aged 5-14 years are not in school (UNICEF-Nigeria). Nigeria is placed first as having the highest number of out-of-School Children in sub-Sahara Africa.  50% of in-school children in Nigeria cannot read and write.

 A baseline survey carried out by Illmi-children’s-fund( the parent of the Readon initiative) in a selected Fulani settlement in FCT Nigeria in 2021, showed that 93.5% of school age children in this community are out-of-school and so lack the ability to read. While 83.08% of in-school children cannot read. Illmi children’s fund had created a model for sending school age children in these hard to reach communities back to school through an education scholarship scheme and also establishing cluster learning centers within these communities. There is need to ensure continuous supply of reading materials to improve the reading culture of these children and to provide them with guides who will be committed to equipping them with basic literacy skills. There is also need to monitor their progress and motivate them to study beyond basic class works.  

There are a lot of initiatives aimed at addressing the problem of illiteracy in Africa and beyond. Most of these initiatives are creating solutions (such as e-libraries, where people can read online/offline with their digital gadgets) that serves only those who can afford them, leaving out those in rural and underdeveloped regions who are not financially capable and with no internet connection. Some of these children in the rural area who are in school due to some educational interventions are still unable to read and write due to lack of teachers/guides and reading materials. Readon initiative will ensure; · 

1. That both in and out-of-school children in these communities have access to reading materials and guide needed to master the act of reading and writing; · 

 2. Everyone can be part of the change wherever they are by buying books for underprivileged children through the Readon web/mobile App;·  

3. Community participation in equipping the children with reading and writing skills through the reading guide volunteering;·   

 4.  Provision of a proper monitoring system, to ascertain the level of literacy through the monthly book review where children are meant to read and give comprehensive summary of books they have studied within the period. 

Through this initiative, we will improve equitable distribution of basic literacy opportunity to children in hard-to-reach communities in Nigeria and helps towards achieving United Nation's SDG’s 4 by 2030.

I work at Illmi-children’s-fund as the finance and data lead (Illmi is an NGO that provides educational opportunities to underprivileged children in hard-to-reach communities through its scholarship and livelihood support programs). In 2021, we carried out a baseline survey to examine the level of education and literacy of the children in a selected Fulani settlement in Nigeria. I got to understand the pertinent need for my solution through the analysis and presentation of the baseline report.

I had the opportunity to interview and discuss with members of the community and it dawned on me that a solution like mine will not only solve the problem of basic reading and writing, but will go a long way in creating developmental opportunities for them. I have studied reports by United Nations on sustainable development goals, UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the Global Education Monitoring Report and I have come to realization of the need for urgent intervention on literacy especially for these hard-to-reach communities who as it seems are left behind in global development. The model I am proposing is tilted towards community involvement in financing basic literacy. While waiting for the government and international organizations to discover these communities, build schools and employ teachers for the children, we as members of the community can as well donate and buy at least a book for just one child and/or make ourselves available to help these children to learn how to read.

My idea is still a concept. I am exploring it's feasibility. i have been able to identify my market and their needs and also searched various other platforms that provides similar solution. i have gathered data through illmi children's fund and analyzed them. I am confident of the viability of my idea based on the strength of existing research and the fact that no individual or organization is providing a similar service to my target communities and other hard to reach communities across Nigeria. 

Read-on initiative is a new project that relies on technology to function. We use of a web and mobile App. Individuals around the world who have access to digital gadgets (mobile phones, tablets, laptop etc) and internet connection can make use of our product. we will also employ the services of different online payment platform such as paystack for transfer of funds.

The initiative hope to be able to distribute at-least two different books to 200 children in various Fulani ruga settlements in the FCT, Nigeria within the next one year. and be able to have trained at least 50% of them to read and write

We hope that by the first year, we would have not less than 500 children on our database and be able to have distributed at least two books to 200 children. we also hope to have not less than 50 children participating in our monthly hybrid book review from the 6th month.

Number of books donated per- month

Number of children who receive books per-month 

Number of volunteers as reading guides per-month

Number of summaries submitted per-month

Number of children present at the monthly book review

Setting up a team of UI/UX designers, software engineers, system administrators will cost Readon 10,000 dollars (4,158,200 naira). unavailability of the needed fund might limit or delay our impact in the next year.

I am the finance and data lead at illmi childrens fund. I work alone but with mentorship from my parent organization and advisors. And they include designers, management consultants, development experts and digital marketing specialist.

I partner with my parent organization illmi children's fund to leverage on their technical expertise in the field of education and human capital development.

Worldwide, about 258 million children and youth are out of school (UIS data for the school year ending, 2018). In Nigeria, where primary education is officially free and compulsory, about 10.5 million of the country’s children aged 5-14 years are not in school (UNICEF-Nigeria). Nigeria is placed first as having the highest number of out-of-School Children in sub-Sahara Africa. According to the joint publication by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the Global Education Monitoring Report 2019, the global youth literacy rate is 91%, meaning 102 million youth lack basic literacy skills. 50% of in-school children in Nigeria cannot read and write.

 A baseline survey carried out by Illmi-children’s-fund( the parent of the Readon initiative) in a selected Fulani settlement in FCT Nigeria in 2021, showed that 93.5% of school age children in this community are out-of-school and so lack the ability to read. While 83.08% of in-school children cannot read. Illmi children’s fund had created a model for sending school age children in these hard to reach communities back to school through an education scholarship scheme and also establishing cluster learning centers within these communities. There is need to ensure continuous supply of reading materials to improve the reading culture of these children and to provide them with guides who will be committed to equipping them with basic literacy skills. There is also need to monitor their progress and motivate them to study beyond basic class works.