Photo Essay: How Do Out-of-School Children In Nigeria’s FCT Spend Their Days?
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Nigeria has an alarming problem of out-of-school children, with one in every five such children globally residing in the country. Poverty and insecurity are the primary drivers of this crisis. Although primary education is constitutionally free and compulsory in Nigeria, UNICEF reports that about 10.5 million of the country’s children aged 5-14 years are not in school.
Khadija, a shy 7-year-old girl, lives in a Fulani settlement right across from tall modern buildings. Unlike some of her friends, her parents have not enrolled her in school. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Yakubu, a cattle rearer, walks with his herd, searching for fresh grazing land. He says this is a generational trade — it is all he knows. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Yakubu, a cattle rearer, walks with his herd, searching for fresh grazing land. He says this is a generational trade — it is all he knows. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Aisha and Maryam, two sisters unaware of their ages, spend their days begging on the street. Neither has ever been enrolled in school, and they have no idea why. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Najib, 14, dropped out of school and relocated due to the insecurity in Katsina, Northwest Nigeria. He is now an apprentice mechanic in Karimo, FCT Abuja. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Najib, 14, dropped out of school and relocated due to the insecurity in Katsina, Northwest Nigeria. He is now an apprentice mechanic in Karimo, FCT Abuja. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Haruna, a young boy from Zaria, is currently attending an almajiri school in the FCT. He begs on the street to earn money for food. Today, he managed to save enough to buy a wristwatch he has always wanted. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Umar, 14, sells engine oil and fuel in the black market. He dropped out of school because his father could no longer afford it. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Muhammad, 7, plays with other children and his tyre. He had to drop out of school after his father passed away. His mother can no longer afford his school fees due to the rising cost of living. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
Muhammad, 7, plays with other children and his tyre. He had to drop out of school after his father passed away. His mother can no longer afford his school fees due to the rising cost of living. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle.
L-R: Jaafar, Labarani, Abdulmalik, and Yakubu. The young farmers are on their way to clear a neighbour’s bush. Later, they will join their parents at the farm. Photo: Sabiqah Bello/HumAngle
As we confront the out-of-school problem in Nigeria, it becomes clear that bridging the gap between thriving urban centers and the neglected rural areas is crucial.
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Sabiqah Bello is a multimedia reporter at HumAngle. She anchors the podcast Vestiges of Violence and leads the HumAngle Index, a docu-series that explores development issues and analyses the impact of bills and policies on individuals.
