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Poverty and Hunger Forcing Sokoto’s Children Out of School |
In the bustling Sokoto Central Market, ten-year-old Abubakar Gaddafi weaves through noisy streets with a bucket of sachet water balanced in his hands. It’s midday on a Tuesday in early June, a time when most children are in class. But Abubakar is working instead of learning.
“My mother buys the sachet water for me to sell, and she uses the money to buy what we eat,” says the Primary Four pupil of Gwaza Primary School. “I want to be a mallam (Islamic teacher) and support my mother.”
Abubakar earns about ₦1,500 from selling three buckets daily. Like thousands of children in Sokoto State, he juggles between informal labour and education — a trade-off that often results in permanent dropout.
According to the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) 2023/24 report, Northern Nigeria accounts for over 63% of the nation’s 127,067 school dropouts, with Sokoto alone recording 11,339 cases, primarily boys. Poverty, cultural norms, and the prioritisation of informal apprenticeships over formal education remain key drivers.
‘Hawk or Go Hungry’ — The Almajiri Reality
Seventeen-year-old Abubakar Gidandare sells Kunu (a local drink) in Sokoto. By midday, half his drinks are warm and unsold. “I’ll take the rest home. I do this every day. I don’t go to school,” he admits.
Like many in the Almajiri system, Abubakar attends an Islamic school but lacks basic literacy skills. His survival depends on hawking for his mallam’s wife in exchange for food — a practice that leaves him hungry whenever he skips sales.
Data from the UNICEF Nigeria office estimates over 10 million Almajiri children across Northern Nigeria, with Sokoto hosting around 113,208, most living outside family care. Despite the free basic education policy in public schools, many still drop out due to hidden costs such as uniforms, books, and feeding.
Hustling Instead of Learning
In Dendima, a rural community outside Sokoto city, children work at a recycling site during school hours. Ibrahim Abdul, 15, stopped attending school two years ago to work full-time, earning ₦2,000 a day.
Prof. Shehu Tsagem of Usmanu Danfodiyo University warns that such children are at high risk of drug abuse, petty crime, and recruitment by criminal gangs. “Government must lead massive grassroots campaigns on the value of education,” he said.
Hunger and Displacement as Catalysts
For Aisha, Fatimah, and their brothers, the choice was taken from them. Bandit attacks in Katsina destroyed their village, forcing them to Sokoto where they now beg for alms. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that displacement due to insecurity is a major cause of educational disruption in Nigeria.
Health Risks for Out-of-School Children
Dr. Abdulrazaq Taiwo of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital highlights the severe health risks street children face — dehydration, heat stroke, diarrhoea, and stunting due to malnutrition.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines stunting as chronic undernutrition that affects physical and cognitive development. Nigeria has a 34.2% stunting rate among children under five, with Sokoto recording nearly 900,000 food-insecure residents — a figure projected to rise to 1.2 million during the lean season.
The Law Exists — But Enforcement Lags
In 2021, the Sokoto State Child Protection Law guaranteed every child free, compulsory education, parental care, and protection from labour that interferes with schooling. Section 23 prohibits child labour for those under 18, with penalties for offenders.
However, legal practitioner Ahmed Musa notes that enforcement is weak due to poor public awareness, cultural resistance, and outdated penalties. He recommends establishing Child Rights Committees at state and local levels, comprising government officials, civil society, legal professionals, and media representatives to ensure quarterly reviews and public accountability.
Breaking the Cycle
Addressing the crisis requires multi-sectoral action:
- Government-led investment in education infrastructure and welfare support.
- Community sensitisation through trusted religious and traditional leaders.
- Enforcement of child protection laws with stiffer penalties.
- Support for displaced families to integrate children back into school.
Without urgent intervention, Sokoto’s out-of-school children risk being locked in an intergenerational cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and vulnerability to exploitation.
References:
- UNICEF Nigeria – Education Programmes
- World Health Organization – Child Nutrition
- NSSEC Official Reports
- UNHCR Nigeria – Displacement Reports
