As part of the 2025 Children’s Day celebration, the Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF), the humanitarian arm of the Warri Kingdom Monarchy, owned by Olori Atuwatse III, unveiled the Read and Reach Edition of its flagship literacy initiative, Storytime with Mama Iwere.
On the 28th of May 2025, this unique edition will see the Foundation donate 200 copies of Her Majesty’s self authored children’s story books to libraries, and more than 200 school pack essentials to 4 schools: Cavagina Primary School, International Unity School, Edah Primary School, and Akurajor Primary School across the Warri Kingdom, which underlines its unwavering commitment to delivering access to quality education and reading tools for children in underserved communities.
To garnish the programme with cultural pride and heritage, the RIF Read & Read edition will feature the reading of Her Majesty’s books, “The Singing Stars Find Their Beat and The Twins Holiday Adventure Pt 1”
On top of that, 100 outstanding pupils, 25 from the 4 schools listed above, will receive a special gift package, including Her Majesty’s authored storybooks and educational materials, in recognition of their academic brilliance and participation.
Since 2022, Storytime with Mama Iwere has grown from being a literacy project to a movement that expands vocabulary and nurtures the cognitive and emotional development of more than 1200 young pupils. Its aim remains to help children build their future from an early age.
“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,” Her Royal Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III 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,” the Foundation’s Project Lead, Zion Oshiobugie, added.
Storytime with Mama Iwere proves RIF’s relentless commitment to changing the narrative around education in the country: one school, one child, one story at a time.
Royal Iwere Foundation (RIF) is the humanitarian arm of Their Royal Majesties, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, 21st Olu of Warri and Olori Atuwaste III, Queen Consort. It is the Warri Kingdom Monarchy’s strategic way of developing the human capital potential of its people by tackling the socio-economic needs via indigenous and collaborative solutions.
The foundation remains focused on getting rid of all kinds of hurdles that could prevent the Kingdom’s steady development and its ability to compete on a global stage via targeted SDG-oriented initiatives.
