Amid the excitement of launching her pet project, One Dictionary Per Child Campaign, Taiwo Lolade Salvador, popularly known as TOS, announced that the initiative is permanent and will soon reach every local government area in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.
Salvador, a passionate literacy advocate and product of Lateef Kayode Jakande’s free‑education era, said “education was both a foundation and a ladder for me , and now I must pass that legacy on” She said with passion ..
After a 14‑year evaluation, she noted persistent weaknesses in children’s reading ability, pronunciation and vocabulary, which inspired the dictionary drive. “The dictionaries are lightweight, portable and designed to boost confidence, lower academic anxiety and nurture language skills”
She thanked Lagos State’s leadership for its support and urged further government collaboration.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, the Agbaakin of Iruland, who was represented by Chief Francis Olanrewaju Shonubi, said that “I am always eager to support such projects like this because it will add to the learning value in our society; you have a supporter in me,” adding that as a retired Lagos State Permanent Secretary, he believes every child deserves a dictionary, a treasure trove of words and knowledge.
Mr. Alaba Israel described the initiative as “remarkable and first‑of‑its‑kind,” while Mrs. Moji Olemoh, representing Eti‑Osa LG chairman Omo‑Oba Adeola Adetoro, praised Salvador’s passion and noted that a dictionary, unlike a mobile phone, is a non‑distracting learning tool.
Mr. Abayomi Oyelami emphasised, “It takes a village to raise a child,” urging parents, government officials, educators and stakeholders to back the campaign, saying, “A project like this needs everyone , be it parents, officials, educators and well‑wishers.”
The event, held at Dr. Finnih Park, Opebi Link Road, Ikeja, featured light music, refreshments and networking, underscoring the shared responsibility of government, teachers, parents and organizations to close Lagos’s literacy gap. Salvador called on the state government and partners to join, stressing that education is a lasting legacy.
Through the TOS Educational Initiative, the campaign now aims to nurture a reading culture, one dictionary at a time..
