Photo Essay: How Do Out-of-School Children In Nigeria’s FCT Spend Their Days?

The rural settlements where they are found present a stark contrast to the well-paved roads and affluent neighbourhoods nearby. These images capture the reality of how out-of-school children are often forced by circumstance into activities such as street begging, mechanic work, and cattle rearing— leaving their potential tragically stifled.

Sabiqah Bello September 9, 2024

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.

Person standing in the doorway of a traditional thatched-roof mud hut with modern buildings in the background. — 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.

Man in a hat walking with a large-horned goat on a grassy field with greenery and a fence in the background. — *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.*

Person herding cattle on a dirt path by a busy road with vehicles and stormy sky overhead. — *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.*

Two girls in traditional dresses standing by a roadside, with cars and houses in the background. — *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.*

Man working on a generator at a busy outdoor workshop with people and motorcycles around. — *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.*

A mechanic's hands fixing an engine with tools, in a black and white photo. — *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.*

Young person sitting on a sidewalk, looking at a wristwatch, with a notebook and rock nearby. — 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.

Young person in yellow robe holding bottles stands by a rustic wooden stall with various items. — *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.

A person standing in a narrow alley with worn walls and graffiti, captured in black and white. — 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.

Four children from the back standing on a dirt road with building construction in the background. — *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 September 9, 2024