ABUJA, Nigeria — In a bid to nurture a strong reading culture among young learners, Berries World Montessori School in Bwari, Abuja, organised a five-day reading marathon, encouraging pupils to develop a passion for books beyond academic requirements.
The event, which ran from Monday, January 27, 2025, to Friday, January 31, 2025 challenged students to read as many books as possible from the school library while demonstrating comprehension and retention skills.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the school’s proprietor, Ms. Roseline Yuhe, explained that the initiative stemmed from her concern that many children only engage with reading when it is tied to schoolwork.
“I wanted to find a way to encourage children to read beyond just school assignments. Many of them don’t read unless they develop an interest in it, so I thought of making reading fun through competition,” she said.
Beyond Speed: Focus on Comprehension
Yuhe emphasised that the marathon was not merely about reading quickly but also about understanding and analysing the content.
Participants were required to summarise their readings, define new words, and answer questions based on specific chapters or quotes.
“We didn’t just want them to rush through books. Each student had to explain key points, analyse content, and answer comprehension questions to progress,” she added.
The competition included pupils from Kindergarten to Junior Secondary School (JSS) and was scheduled daily at noon after regular class sessions.
At the end of the challenge, JSS 3 student Samuel Benedict emerged as the overall winner, having read and summarised seven books in five days.
He received a ₦10,000 cash prize in recognition of his efforts.
A Victory Beyond the Prize
The 13-year-old expressed excitement over his achievement, saying that his motivation stemmed from a desire to learn new things and broaden his knowledge.
“I have learned that every book holds valuable wisdom. Winning was great, but for me, the real prize is the knowledge I gained,” he said.
Ms. Yuhe encouraged parents to play an active role in fostering reading habits at home by creating small libraries and limiting screen time.
“Reading improves vocabulary, attention span, and overall academic performance. Parents should invest in books and encourage children to read widely,” she advised.
The initiative was widely regarded as a success, with participants gaining valuable skills in comprehension, discipline, and knowledge retention—essential tools for academic and personal development.
