Men Started Eyeing Me As A Teenager –Ex-beauty Queen, Munachi Abii

Former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria who later became a rapper, Munachi Abii in an interview talks about how Men started eyeing her as a teenager, her relationship.

What have you been up to lately? You haven’t been in the news recently. Is it a deliberate decision?

Yes it is a deliberate decision. I’d rather be in the news for a good reason. A good reason would be something positive. My video for No Tomorrow just got released, so I’m promoting that.

You recently changed your hair colour to blonde. What influences your style?

Before now, I had not found the right shade of blonde for me. But we decided to try something new for my video and this shade worked, so I decided to work with it. I would say my true style is still evolving.

Who was your first crush?

OH MY! SEE What This Popular Actress Is Wearing

American actress, Paris Hilton showed off her her pelvic bone and crotch in a sheer black dress she wore to Sean P Diddy's 4th Annual Red Carpet pre-Grammys party Celebration at Boulevard3 in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

The 32-year-old heiress made it obvious she wasn't wearing any undies in this daring sheer black dress with glittering panels.

Paris Hilton is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the founder of Hilton Hotels.

What do you think of her outfit?

"I Don't Hate Men, I Just Hate Being Treated Like An Animal"- Journalist Speaks Out On Sexual Harrassment

Former MBGN contestant turned journalist shared her bitter experience in the hands of a house owner in Lagos and how she hates being treated like an animal.

Karen took to her twitter page to talk about her sexual harrassment.

See her tweets below

In other for you to understand this you have to read from bottom up.

READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/57596.html

ADORABLE PHOTOS: Check Out Comedian, Julius Agwu's Cute Daughter

Comedian, Julius Agwu shared adorable photos of his daughter Zahra.

Is Mercy Johnson Really 26-Years-Old?

There's a controversy surrounding Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson's real age

This seem to be another age scandal. Someone close to the Nollywood curvy actress, Mercy J claims the actress is just 26 years old- yeah right!

Meanwhile the mother of one, Mercy Johnson said that she was born 1984 in her biography which makes obviously does not correspond with 26.

Now the question is what is her exact age? Is she truly 26 or?

Man Claiming To Be Prophet Mohammed Gets Sentenced To Death For Blasphemy

Human rights campaigners are calling for the immediate release of a British man sentenced to death under Pakistan's blasphemy laws.

Mr Mohammad Asghar was arrested in 2010 after he claimed to be Prophet Mohammed in letters sent to various officials. A judge convicted and sentenced him last Thursday following a trial.

But a lawyer who defended Mr Asghar said he suffers from mental illness and the case was really a property dispute.
Amnesty International's deputy Asia Pacific director Polly Truscott said:

'Mohammad Asghar is now facing the gallows simply for writing a series of letters. He does not deserve punishment. No one should be charged on the basis of this sort of conduct. The blasphemy laws undermine the rule of law, and people facing charges risk death and other harm in detention. 
Pakistan must immediately release Mohammad Ashgar and reform its blasphemy laws to ensure that this will not happen again.'

Essien Finally Seals Deal To AC. Milan

Chelsea’s Ghanian international midfielder Michael Essien has joined AC Milan, the Italian Serie A side announced on Friday.

“Michael Essien will arrive in Milan this evening,” AC Milan said in a statement, praising the “high level curriculum” of the player. Essien, 31, arrives on a free transfer having signed an 18-month deal with the northern outfit placed 11th in Serie A, the Italian press reported.

Essien is the first recruit of new Milan coach Clarence Seedorf, and he could play in their Champions League last 16 tie against Atletico Madrid next month with two Milan midfielders suspended for the match – Riccardo Montolivo and Ghanian Sulley Muntari.

Invention: Headband That Allows You Control Your Dreams

Company Invented Headband That Allows To Control Your Dreams. A company have created an electronic headband that they say can let you control dreams - giving you the power of inception.


Developers at California-firm iWinks believe their Aurora headband can help sleepers make "anything become possible".

The device will let you direct your unconscious thoughts and form dreams to your desires.

Like 2010 film Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, dreamers will be able to create new realms and scenarios to live through.

Danny Schoonover, hardware engineer at iWinks, said: "When you become aware of the safety the world you are in, you can really take control of the events of the dream or just sit back and enjoy it.
See more PHOTOS.

Is It Normal For A Married Woman To Be Attracted To Someone Else?

Please ladies (married), I need your take on this. Is it possible for a married woman to feel attracted to someone other than her husband?

Its kind of weird but this guy that lives at the apartment opposite ours is.......I don't know.

Well, the thing is, I feel so uncomfortable around him. Any time he greets me 'good morning madam', I feel my heart jump in my throat. I can't look him in the eye, and when he some time plays with my little girl.

I distance myself from him.

Is this normal? Or is something wrong with me?

Has it ever happened to any of you?

BREAKING NEWS: LASU Shut Down Indefinitely

Management of the Lagos State University (LASU) have taken the decision to halt the activities of the state-owned educational facility indefinitely. The development follows what the LASU university officials described 'violent protest by the students'.

"In the wake of the violent protest by some affected students of Lagos State University (LASU) over the closure of the university portal for registration of courses for rain semester 2012/2013 examination, the university management has decided to shut down the university indefinitely," the bulletin titled LASU management Closes University indefinitely and dated January 23, 2014, reads. "Also, examinations have been put off till further notice. With this decision, students are expected to vacate the university premises until further notice."

The initially peaceful protest has been staged by the students on Wednesday, January 22. They decried the failure of the University Management to reopen the registration portal for over a thousand students who are yet to register. However, on Thursday, violence erupted. Participants destroyed cars, other properties, and allegedly threw stones at the University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Obafunwa despite the presence of men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on the site. 

SEE MORE PHOTOS....

Mikel Obi's Father Attacks Hayatou Over GLO/CAF Award

Pa Michael Obi, father of Chelsea and Super Eagles star, Mikel, has blamed the President of the Confederation of African Football, Mr. Isa Hayatou, for the inability of his son to win the recently-held CAF/GLO African Footballer of the Year  award.

The CAF/GLO African Footballer of the Year award went to Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester city midfielder, Yahaya Toure, with Mikel and Cote d’Ivoire captain, Didier Drogba, coming second and third places respectively.

Mikel’s father said his friends from Jos and Lagos were anxiously waiting to call and congratulate him before the choice of Toure was announced.

SENSATIONAL: Kate Henshaw Found LOVE! (SEE PHOTOS)

Not much has been heard about private life of the Nollywood beauty Kate Henshaw recently, until some suggestive photos of the actress together with her colleague Yibo Koko surfaced.

See More Photos.............

I Have Been In Love With A Heartless Girl For Four Years.

I met a lady during a trip and we got talking and later had a relationship "oh i must say she acted like an Angel that even my mum fell for her tricks"

I thought i had met the perfect girl back then but i was wrong...to cut the long story short, we dated for 4 years and i never knew she was a big time runs girl as she always forced me to church and pray. She also dresses like a saint.

I noticed each time we are not together and I call her to say I love you babes, her reply were always "really, hmmmm". There was a time I was called that she fainted and had been rushed to the hospital, when I got to the hospital and saw her, i cried so hard because she looked so terrible and I was hurt. I was told she had ruptured appendix but i later got to know she had ectopic pregnancy.

Dr. Julius Nwokoro’s 24-Year Old Daughter Speaks On Life, Marriage & Business

Enjoy her interview, were she spoke about her father, late mother, business, marriage and why she got married at 21 and the reason she also changed her mind about giving birth early.

First, can we meet you?

My name is Nneka Ebru Okpe; Nwokoro is my maiden name. I’m 24, I’m doing my doctorate, I’m in my last year, I’m schooling in Paris – Paris School of Business. I’m half Turkish, half Nigerian and I’ve been living in Nigeria since 2007.

What course are you doing over there?
Actually, I’m doing my doctorate in Business Administration. But my research topic is Effect of Culture in Business Success in Emerging Nations.

So, what else do you do –besides your doctorate programme?

I actually have a consulting company; we do business consulting, we bring Turkish companies to Nigeria or Nigerian partners that want to meet Turkish partners, we also facilitate that. I work with an NGO in Nigeria that is called ABINAT – it’s the association of business people and investment between Turkey and Nigeria. It’s actually a partner NGO to TUSKON.

TUSKON is the biggest NGO in Turkey; it looks into business in every sector. It’s the biggest in Turkey and I think the third in the whole of Europe. They work with us; so anybody that comes to me, I try to direct them with a reference. And you know that when you work with a reference, it’s like a stronger business connection and more trust worthy.

So, we work with ABINAT, we partner them. There are a lot of Nigerians

PORNOGRAPHY: How To Protect Our Children From Sexually Explicit Online Materials

Up-and-coming bloggers in Nigeria may have cultivated the habit of attracting visitors to their sites by uploading sexually explicit materials.

When a three-minute, 20-second sex tape of a popular Nollywood actress said to be preparing for her wedding leaked online, in the first week of December, 2013, several blogs and websites quickly uploaded the video on their platforms.

On one blog, 38,692 people have since visited the site to see the video as of Sunday, January 20, 2014. On another one, the administrator tried to convince visitors that the site was not being used to encourage pornography.

"I do not intend to promote pornography," the blogger says, adding, "but to try my best to keep you guys informed with what is going on around you. And this should serve as a lesson to everyone, especially the female readers."

20 Things Every Twentysomething Should Know How to Do

First things first, most twentysomethings are too hard on themselves. It’s one of the downsides of a youth-obsessed culture. We tend to think if we haven’t published our first book, planted our first church or gotten married by the time we’re 30, then we’re on the fast track for a lonely, penniless death which will be mourned by none. Sure, some people get famous when they turn 25. Some people also swim across the English Channel.

Your twenties are a prime time to explore and grow, without all the baggage that comes with settling down and making your mark. (Jesus Himself was an unknown carpenter in a reviled corner of Israel until He was 30.)

That said, there are a few things every twentysomething should know how to do. They are-

How Should Christians Date?

A wise man once told me that there were only two outcomes for dating relationships: getting married or breaking up. “The secret,” he said, “is knowing how to handle a dating relationship so you know if the other person is worth marrying or he or she is honored in the breakup.”

Unfortunately, it seems like many young singles struggle to figure out just how to handle dating–and I’m not the only one who’s noticed how weird the Christian dating scene can be. As my friend Lindsey, married and in her thirties, recently remarked, “I’m sure glad I wasn’t much of a Christian when I started dating my husband!”

Whether over coffee in my kitchen or on the hallowed ground of women’s small groups, I hear these murmurs constantly. “My daughter was interested in this nice Christian boy, but he strung her along for a year and a half. The next one did too.” Or, “Jeremy acted like they were friends but she told me later that they were hooking up on the side.” With that kind of dismal dating culture at play, let’s consider the options:

First, there’s “Duggar Dating.” Duggar dating is the modern-day form of arranged marriages. I don’t have first-hand knowledge, but thanks to reality TV, I believe it appears to involve asking the woman’s dad if she is available to date, and possibly not kissing until the actual wedding.

Psquare Buys Two New Homes In Atlanta, Georgia (SEE PHOTOS)

 Peter Okoye of Psquare has shown that hardwork pays as he took to his instagram page to share the good news and photos of the beautiful pictures of the new homes he and his twin brother Paul just bought in Atlanta, Georgia.

He posted the photos with caption "Bought ourselves two new homes in Atlanta GA. Thank u Lord. #Hardwork"

They have a house in Omole Estate, Ikeja, building one in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi and now they have acquired two more homes in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 

SEE MORE PHOTOS...........

The Pope Is Anti Christ & All Catholics Are Hell Bound......Reverend Chris Okotie

The General Overseer of Household Of God, said all Catholics were going straight to hell & that the head of the Catholic church, Pope Francis is the anti Christ.
The controversial man of God, who recently said for the third time God has instructed him to contest for the greatest seat in the country, "The Presidency", come 2015, is justifying his ludicrous anti-Catholic statements in an interview.

Read what he had to say-

Is the Obama marriage on the rocks? Claims emerge of ugly fights.

Michelle Obama was 50 yesterday and President Barack Obama will be feting his redoubtable First Lady tonight with a party that will give them the chance to let their hair down and forget their troubles for a few hours.
Purse-lipped Washington etiquette experts have tutted at the informality of it all, but the Obamas have always been keen to appear accessible, even if the stand-offish reality is somewhat different.The Obamas are the world’s most scrutinised couple at the best of times, but it will be rare to find a guest at the bash who won’t be secretly watching them with particular interest.After all, the last time they were pictured together at Nelson Mandela’s memorial  the First Lady was looking none too pleased

See Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor's Multi-Million Naira Church Auditorium In Warri, Delta State

Is President Obama the Anti-Christ?

Already no stranger to controversy, the Rev. Robert Jeffress, a Dallas megachurch pastor, is coming out with a book that claims President Barack Obama is clearing the way for the Antichrist. Jeffress, head of the 11,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas, writes in his book Perfect Ending that he does not believe Obama is the Antichrist, yet he links Obama’s support of gay marriage to the coming of the Antichrist. Many Christians believe Jesus’ Second Coming will feature a confrontation with an enemy called the Antichrist, based on interpretation of passages 1 John and 2 John.
“For the first time in history a president of our country has openly proposed altering one of society’s (not to mention God’s) most fundamental laws: that marriage should be between a man and a woman,” Jeffress writes, according to an advance copy provided to Citadel.

“While I am not suggesting that President Obama is the Antichrist, the fact that he was able to propose such a sweeping change in God’s law and still win reelection by a comfortable margin illustrates how a future world leader will be able to oppose God’s laws without any repercussions.”

Wife of Indian minister found dead after Twitter adultery

The wife of prominent Indian minister Shashi Tharoor was found dead Friday in a five-star hotel room in New Delhi after she exposed his alleged adultery with a Pakistani journalist on Twitter. The body was discovered by human resources minister Shashi Tharoor after he returned from a party meeting on Thursday, his private secretary Abhinav Kumar said. "She seemed to be sleeping in a normal way but later it was found she was dead," Kumar told reporters, referring to Sunanda Pushkar, a 52-year-old entrepreneur formerly based in Dubai.

The death came as a tragic twist in a tale of apparent marital strife that has played out in full view of the public in India's newspapers and on social media.

It began late Wednesday when a curious series of messages appeared on the Twitter account of the suave thrice-married Tharoor, a former high-flying UN diplomat, novelist and key government spokesman. They showed private exchanges purportedly between the 57-year-old minister

Motivation and Goal Setting..... the road to success

Motivation and enthusiasm manifest as desire and interest, and as a driving force that pushes to take action and pursue goals. Lack of motivation and enthusiasm denotes absence or deficiency in desire, interest and driving force.

Lack of motivation and lack of enthusiasm are two of the main reasons for failure and of living a mediocre life. People lacking in motivation and enthusiasm are usually passive, blame everything and everyone for their circumstances, and often come up with many excuses why they shouldn't or cannot do this or that. On the other hand, a motivated person is energetic and positive, takes action to improve his or her life, and does not give up when there are problems.

Lack of motivation and enthusiasm can show up everywhere, at home, at work, in relationships, in pursuing goals and in everything else. This often brings indifference, unhappiness and dissatisfaction.

Ronaldo and Messi set themselves apart with their girls

Ronaldo and Messi put their girls between them

Wow! Could there be a reason for this sitting position?

Teaching English Tips: How To Be A Successful Teacher

It's amazing that some graduates and undergraduates can't speak or teach simple and correct English. These Tips will help you as a teacher and also help you in your daily communication.

Tip #1: Speak Entirely In English

If you've ever tried to learn another language, you know that it can be difficult, especially if you're trying to go back and forth between your new and native tongues. Studies have shown that immersion classrooms are more successful, mostly because students are forced to switch their brains over to the new language. If your students are just beginners, they may have problems following along so make sure that you write down any necessary information, such as homework assignments. Students may need to look up a few

Ronaldo wins World Player of the Year for the 2nd time

ZURICH - Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo was named the world's best footballer for the second time on Monday, preventing his great rival Lionel Messi from winning the award for a fifth year in a row.

Argentine Messi, hampered by uncharacteristic injury problems at Barcelona late in the year, and Frenchman Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich were the other candidates for the prize, officially known as the FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Jupp Heynckes, now retired, was named coach of the year for the first time after his Bayern Munich team won an unprecedented Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble.

Ronaldo was also voted FIFA Player of the Year in 2008, before Messi began a run of four successive titles.

In 2010 and 2011, the award was fused with the Ballon D'Or award previously handed out by France Football magazine.

2014 SPDC Niger Delta Scholarship Scheme

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) announces the fifth annual SPDC Niger Delta Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme for applicants from Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States.

The objective of the scheme is to provide an opportunity for qualifying students from these Niger Delta States to further their education in courses that are relevant to the oil and gas industry.

In the four years since the programme was launched 40 students have benefitted from the opportunity to study at world-renowned institutions.

SPDC will award 10 scholarships for one-year M.Sc studies in partnership with three universities in the UK—Imperial College London, University College, London and the University of Leeds for the academic year commencing September 2014. 

The following courses will be offered:

What Guys Look For in a Girlfriend.

Number 10

She's Independent

No one wants a girlfriend they have to baby-sit.

Once in a while, like if she's had a rough day, it's great to be her shoulder to cry on, but if she can't seem to function without you and is constantly after you, she will eventually make you feel like you're suffocating, which is a surefire way to get you running out the nearest exit. On the other hand, if she has her very own personality and opinions, can stand on her own two feet, both financially and emotionally, and is able to enjoy time away from you -- while still missing you, of course

5 Smartphones We Cant Wait For in 2014

Last year was a great year for smartphones, the iPhone 5s with finger print technology, the Samsung S4 with gesture technology, the HTC One with amazing audio. This year even promises to be way better with slimmer more durable phones, higher resolution camers, flexible phones and so much more.

• Sony Xperia Z2 : You remember the Sony Xperia Z1, the one with the amazing camera and the one you can throw in a tub of water and it’ll remain functional,  yes that one. There is set to be another one, the Z2, eureka! Z2 promises to be even better.

Facts Guys Need To Know About Suits

Suits are the one classic outfit that can transform a guy from ghetto trashy to classy, suave and dapper however alot of guys don't know how to wear a suit.

Follow these tips to look absolutely dapper in that suit.

Wearing a suit is serious business, a well tailored suit is one that should look like it was moulded on you not like you were thrown into a boxy trash bag.

Here are some tips to bear in mind when wearing a suit.

Can Our Past Relationships Affect Our Present Relationship?

One can enter a new relationship with the idea that it will be a completely new experience and unlike what they have gone through in the past. But while this might be their outlook in the beginning, this can soon come to an end as the relationship progresses.

This could be because of what is going on within them or what is taking place on the outside. But although what is going in internally and externally can be different, it is easy for one to see them as being

Brazilian man claims to be Jesus Christ

He’s a 66-year-old who gets around on his mobility scooter and enjoys eating home-grown fruit and vegetables from his garden. But there’s one thing that makes Inri Cristo stand out from other men his age: he has believed he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ since 1979. The Brazilian preacher’s sermons in 30 countries have seen him attract hundreds of followers. A group of devoted disciples, all of whom are female, also live at his home.

Why Breaking Up Is Hard - Coping With Break-Ups and Rejection

Rejection and breaking-up are especially hard for codependents. They can trigger hidden grief and cause irrational guilt, anger, shame, and fear. Working through the following issues can help you let go and move on.

1. Codependents often blame themselves or their partner.
2. They have low self-esteem, and any rejection triggers feelings of shame.
3. Relationships are of primary importance to them.
4. They fear this relationship may be their last.
5. They haven't grieved their childhood
6. Past feelings of loss and trauma from their childhood are triggered.

Blame

One of the main symptoms of codependency is poor boundaries. Codependents have difficulty seeing others as separate individuals, with feelings, needs, and motivations independent of themselves. They feel responsible and guilty for others' feelings and actions.

Does She Want You To Approach Her? How To Tell

Approaching women can be scary. The possibility of rejection is always there. It's a fact of life that some women are not going to find you appealing physically or mentally because of something you have done.

• Maybe they have seen you acting in a way that they do not find attractive.
• Maybe they do not like the fact that you are hitting on another woman and then coming over to them.
• Maybe they just don't get a good vibe off of you.

It doesn't matter what the reason is, the chances of you succeeding with a woman when her mind is already set against you is very slim.

Therefore, if you want to avoid rejection, you need to be able to read her body language and avoid the approach altogether when it doesn't look good for you.

How to make the best Career Choice.

Franklin D Roosevelt once said “It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” Thankfully, we live in trial-and-error times where growth and change are expected and employers have learned to tolerate if not wholeheartedly appreciate and welcome the diversity in background and skills that come from career changers.

Yaya Toure: Man City star named Caf Player of the Year

Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has been named the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Footballer of the Year.

It is a third straight title for Toure, who also won December's BBC African Footballer of the Year award

He was up against fellow Ivorian Didier Drogba, of Galatasaray, and Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION FOR STUDENTS

I have been a university student for four years now and each year my New Year's resolution has been basicallly the same: to be a better student. Here are five ways to make that come true.

1. ATTEND YOUR LECTURES
Before you skip another lecture, think: why am I missing part of an education that costs me #80,000 a year?Lecture and seminars cover the content you are going to be tested on and by missing themyou could fall behind.After you leave university, potential employers may ask for a reference from your lecturers. So are those early morning lie-ins really worth missing out on your dream job?

2. PICK YOUR NIGHTS OUT
After a week of clubbing, you can actually forget you are studying for a degree. Yes, university should be fun, but your degree must come first. So while getting drunk, eating fast food on the way back home, and passing out on your bed may seem endlessly pleasurable, you need to work at some point. Don't think tomorrow will come along and solve all your problems.

Hologram Phone Device. Coming soon...the phone that lets you talk to holograms of your loved ones

When Princess Leia appeared before Luke Skywalker as a hologram in the 1977 blockbuster Star Wars, it was very much a work of science fiction. But fast-forward four decades and the hologram telephone call – which will allow callers to see a live 3D image of the other person on the line – is set to become reality. The technology is being pioneered by Leia Display Systems, a Polish company named after the Star Wars heroine. The company aims to have a working model of the telephone operating by next year after it successfully built interactive 3D hologram machines. To make a 3D phone call, a person will sit in front of a specially adapted camera featuring two lenses and a microphone. The two images the lenses create are blended to form a 3D version and streamed via the internet to the person who is being called. A hologram machine will receive the image and beam it using a laser projector on to a ‘screen’ of water vapour, which gives the image its third dimension. The hologram image will speak, move and listen in real time. The company also believes its invention will be on the market within five years. ‘Our holograms will take video- phone calls to the next level,’ said Marcin Panek, chief executive of Leia Display Systems.

CHILDREN LOVES COMPUTER GAMES MORE THAN THEIR BOOKS..... How do we direct them to their books?

Most parents try to get children reading and drag them away from computer screens. But now academic experts thinks he has found a way to turn any child into a full-time bookworm – by working out what type of readers they are. English teacher Andrew Barnard has devised a set of categories to help families understand and support young people’s relationship with books.

They believe there are eight types of readers – ranging from ‘relishers’, who consume up to 40 books a year, to ‘regretters’, who want to read but find it difficult due to problems such as dyslexia. Most worrying for parents is the ‘rechanneler’, a child who used to love books but has been diverted by devices and now spends more time online playing games and visiting social media sites. Children tend to fall into different categories when it comes to reading and identifying these can help parents encourage and support their children’s reading. The other categories are ‘regulars’ who read about ten to 15 books a year, ‘rushers’ who read in bursts, ‘relunctants’ who read five to six books a year, ‘realists’ who read only non-fiction and ‘rejecters’ who read only if they are forced to.

READING TO CHILDREN HELPS BOOST ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Parents should continuing reading to their children up to the age of nine and beyond to help boost their academic sults, according to new research. The study by the Oxford University Press found a sharp decline in the numbers of parents reading bedtime stories after their children had begun to master books themselves, usually around the age of seven. But experts said that even when pupils have learned the basics, adults still had a vital role. James Clements, a leading school adviser on reading, said: ‘Between the ages of seven and nine, parents can make a huge impact. This age provides an opportunity for them to support their child with developing a love of reading. The difference that enjoying reading regularly can make in children’s achievement extends across the curriculum.’

Separate research also found that children who read for fun are more likely to do better in maths and English than youngsters who rarely pick up a book. The findings come days after another study revealed that the traditional bedtime story is dying out, with a third of parents never reading to their children at night. Just 64 per cent of those with children under seven read to them at all, and of those, a mere one in five get a book out every night. The study showed the average modern day child gets three bedtime stories a week. But a quarter of a milllion children aged seven or under, or just under five per cent, do not own a single book. In contrast, 91 per cent of those parents said they were read regular stories as a child, according to the research by online retailer Littlewoods.com. Businessman David Hodges, 48, admitted he struggles to find time to read to his two children. Mr Hodges, of Southampton, Hanmpshire, said: 'I tended to get back too late from work and the children were already in bed. 'If they were lucky their mother had time to read them a story but it could be a real struggle to get them both fed and ready for bed in time.'