I trekked several miles to read newspapers — Kwara vendor turned author

From an ‘ordinary’ vendor, Mashood Lanrey Osho braved the odds to become a leading anti-corruption crusader through his activities as the Deputy Coordinator of the Kwara State-based Elite Network for Sustainable Development (ENETSUD).

He is also an author with the launch of his first book, “Frantic View of an Accidental Vendor”.

Mashood’s journey started immediately after he completed his secondary school education at Mount Camel College, Oloje in 2000 when he established his first newspaper stand at Ita Nma

It was from the profit of this business that he sponsored himself to complete his OND and HND at the Kwara State Polytechnic.

Speaking with North Central Trust on the sidelines of the  launch of his book, Mashood narrated how he trekked several miles from his residence to the mini campus gate of the University of Ilorin to read newspapers from morning till night.

“Reading has been my passion and I find myself in the newspapers business, which flamed my interest for reading. Accidentally I ended up as a columnist in a local tabloid. That led me to become an activist.

“I started my vendor business in 2008 at Ita Nma junction and then moved to establish two more branches at Agbo-Oba junction and Omoda area. It was because of my passion for reading and where I was living at Ita Nma, there was no newspaper stand. One day, I just woke up and thought about establishing a newspaper joint in my area instead of trekking several miles from my place just read newspapers”.

Mashood, who said he still operates his newspaper outlets, said there is a need for concerted efforts to save the vendor business.

“It has not been easy. Reading culture and the newspaper business is failing. It is no more lucrative. On daily basis, people are leaving the business but what we should do is to encourage the young ones to read to be able to rescue the sector.’’