On a blistering Tuesday afternoon near the entrance of Obafemi Awolowo University, where Town-Gboro buses frequently ferry students and staff, a group of young adolescents aged between 11 and 17 weaved through the crowd, earnestly asking for help. These youths-Kudus Ayomide, Ayomide Olabosun, Ezekiel Fajemila, Olabosun Daniel, and Toheeb Akinpelu-were seen pleading for alms.
“Sir, please, anything you can spare will be a blessing,” implored Kudus, a 15-year-old boy dressed in worn and ragged clothes.
Nearby, his companions Ayomide (16), Ezekiel (14), Daniel (15), and Toheeb (17) echoed similar requests, approaching passersby for financial aid.
When questioned about their presence on the streets during school hours, they collectively explained, “Our parents cannot afford our school fees. Providing food for the family is already a struggle; saving for education is impossible. The money we get from begging helps not only us but also supports our families to survive.”
Kudus, the eldest of his mother’s two children, shared that begging was a last resort to help his family. Asked why he was not attending school, he answered with a hint of regret, “Because I need to earn money.”
He further revealed, “My parents are elderly subsistence farmers, too frail for hard labor now. At the moment, they are at the farm with my younger sister, doing what little they can to feed us.”
Kudus explained that the combined income from his begging and the modest farm yields barely sustain the household. Yet, the farm’s output is insufficient, compelling him to join his peers in seeking help on the streets.
When asked if he would return to school if given the chance, his face brightened with hope: “I would be thankful for that opportunity. I have always dreamed of going to school because I want to become a pilot.”
Similarly, 16-year-old Ayomide Olabosun attributed his absence from school to financial hardship.
“I’m out of school because my family can’t afford the fees,” he said with sorrow.
Asked about his parents and whether they knew he was begging, he replied, “They live in Ijio, near the central market. It’s been a long time since I last visited home. I think they’ve grown indifferent because this has become normal.”
Ayomide recounted that he attended Local Authority Primary School in Ijio but dropped out in Primary Six due to lack of funds. “I stopped going when I reached Primary Six because my parents couldn’t pay anymore,” he explained.
Asked if he would like to resume schooling, he responded with determination, “I would be glad to have the chance. I want to become a lawyer and be successful.”
Daniel, the youngest in the group, left school at Primary Three because his mother could no longer afford his fees after his father passed away. “My mother sells lime at Enuwa Market. Since my dad died, she’s been the sole provider for me and my younger sister, without any family support. She enrolled us both, but I had to quit school because she couldn’t pay for both of us. She did her best, but feeding us and paying rent made it impossible,” he lamented.
Daniel recalled a time when his mother sold her clothes just to pay his school fees in Primary Two, before his sister started school.
Like his friends, Ezekiel sees begging as his only option since his parents cannot afford his education. “I wish I had the same opportunities as children from wealthier families. I want to learn and prepare for the future, but here I am, begging just to survive,” he said sadly.
When asked if his parents were aware of his situation, he said, “Yes, they know. My mother sometimes comes at night to help. Besides begging, we also run errands for shop owners and street vendors near the Maintenance Hostel to earn money and food.”
These young individuals are part of a broader crisis affecting many Nigerian children who are out of school due to poverty, cultural norms, inadequate education systems, early marriage for girls, and other barriers that limit their access to education.
Prioritizing Streets Over Classrooms: The Government’s Response
Research shows that during school hours, numerous children who should be in classrooms are instead found in public spaces across Osun State-begging, hawking goods, or loitering around motor parks and areas where alcohol and hemp are sold. Some even scavenge daily to survive.
Despite the Child’s Rights Act of 2003, which guarantees free basic education for children under 18, this right remains elusive in Osun State. The state reportedly has the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, according to a New Telegraph report from October 15, 2022, titled “Osun Records Highest Number of Out-of-School Children in the South West.”
UNICEF Social Policy Specialist Muhammad Okorie explained that 14.88% of boys and 11.5% of girls in Osun are out of school, averaging 13% overall.
Nationally, UNICEF estimates about 10.5 million children are out of school despite free and compulsory primary education. The total number is believed to be around 18.5 million, with girls making up 60% of this figure. Northern states such as Kebbi, Yola, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Borno have the highest concentrations.
Osun State recently dropped to fourth place in the ranking of states with the most out-of-school children, trailing Oyo State, which has the highest percentage of secondary school-aged children not attending school in the Southwest. Oyo’s rate is 10.5%, while Osun’s is 15.4%, with Ife alone accounting for 18% of Osun’s out-of-school population.
Osun’s Commissioner for Education, Mr. Eluwole Adedipo, attributed the education sector’s challenges to flawed policies from the previous administration. He noted that the construction of mega schools led to the consolidation of several smaller schools, making education less accessible and affordable for many parents.
Since taking office in 2023, Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the recruitment of 5,000 teachers and 250 education officers to fill vacancies and improve the education system. The governor has also provided essential learning materials to promote quality and affordable education statewide.
According to a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the recruitment approval followed a needs assessment commissioned last year. The Ministry of Education was instructed to expedite the hiring process to strengthen the sector.
Reviewing past budgets reveals chronic underfunding of education in Osun. In 2021, only ₦10.7 billion (9.7% of the ₦109 billion budget) was allocated to education. However, in 2022, this increased to ₦26.6 billion, the highest allocation in the ₦129.7 billion budget, covering all levels of education, infrastructure, salaries, and programs.
Despite these efforts, investigations reveal that many children remain out of school. Parents, teachers, and school officials express concern over the rising number of children who have never enrolled or dropped out early, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
Gatherings at Maintenance Hostel, OAU Gate, and Motor Parks
Groups of out-of-school children are frequently seen near the Maintenance Hostel on Ife-Ede Road, motor parks, and the OAU campus gate. While their peers attend classes, these children roam the streets in search of survival means.
Kudus Ayomide shared that he came from Oke-Owena, about 30 to 35 kilometers from Ife South Local Government, to join others begging near the university. “I have never been to school since birth,” he admitted. “My parents are elderly farmers who earn little from their small farm. I am the first of four children.”
At a mini-park near the university’s main gate, children aged 7 to 13 gather daily, playing and seeking money from passersby. They come from Sabo, Lagere, Modakeke, and other areas.
When asked why they were not in school, 13-year-old Amidu responded bluntly, “Because we don’t have money.”
Bintu Sadr, another child, explained that she and her five-year-old sister, Alima, beg daily to eat and bring something home for their mother.
Factors Driving the Rise in Out-of-School Children in Osun
Despite government efforts to enroll every child, many remain absent from classrooms, instead found begging or hawking during school hours.
Poverty is the primary cause. Many families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, supplies, or even daily meals. UNESCO reports that approximately 15 million primary school-aged children in Nigeria are out of school, largely due to poverty.
“When resources are scarce, education often becomes secondary as families focus on immediate survival,” explained Prof. Idowu, a Philosophy lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University.
However, poverty is not the sole factor. A teacher at Urban Day Secondary School, Ile-Ife, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that cultural traditions, religious beliefs, child labor, and seasonal farming also contribute.
“Besides poverty, children often miss school during rainy seasons to help on farms. I recall a girl who was withdrawn for an entire term to work with her parents,” she said.
Another teacher at Moremi High School highlighted staff shortages and poor learning environments as additional challenges. “Many teachers cover multiple subjects due to layoffs, classrooms are dilapidated, resources scarce, and some parents indifferent,” the teacher noted.
Expert Opinions and Recommendations for Government Action
Dr. Idris Saminu, a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, identified weak policy execution and misaligned budgeting as key obstacles in addressing the out-of-school crisis.
At a workshop titled “Bridging the Gap: Empowering Locals through Technological Innovation in Educationally Disadvantaged Communities in Northern Nigeria,” he explained that budget allocations often do not match policy timelines, causing many initiatives to fail before implementation.
Dr. Folahanmi Aina from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies emphasized the need for legislation that holds both government and parents accountable. He lamented Nigeria’s position as the country with the highest number of out-of-school children globally, mostly in the North, and cited insecurity and poor school conditions as deterrents.
Mr. Babafemi Matthew, founder of the Homeless Not Hopeless Initiative, highlighted poverty, inflation, and lack of awareness as critical factors keeping children out of school.
“Poverty is the most visible barrier. Many parents cannot afford fees or supplies. Inflation worsens this, making it harder for families to sustain school payments,” he said.
He also pointed out that some parents lack understanding of education’s long-term benefits, preferring their children to engage in petty trading or menial work for immediate income. Cultural beliefs, especially regarding girls’ education, also play a role, with early marriage still prevalent in some regions.
Babafemi urged urgent government intervention, warning that neglecting these issues could lead to a generation of frustrated youth who might become a societal threat.
By: Lawal Usman Olarenwaju
