How Poverty Forces Teenage Boys in Northeast Nigeria to Grow Up Quickly

At just 14, Umar Muhammad Bello from Tsohuwar Kasuwa, Potiskum in Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, had lived through experiences that would test even the strongest of adults. Thrown into the role of a breadwinner, his life is one of resilience and unyielding responsibility.

When Umar lost his father in his early childhood years, his world was forever changed. Though a good Samaritan sponsored his primary education at Almadina Science Academy, a private school in Potiskum, poverty has consistently undermined his opportunities. “I haven’t even collected my primary certificate,” he said. “When I went to school to collect it, they said I should bring ₦2000. I couldn’t afford it, so I still don’t have it.”

Poverty is a societal issue that affects individuals and communities in multiple ways, with a significant impact on educational attainment. Research has extensively explored the link between poverty and education, revealing a complex relationship that limits opportunities for those living in poverty.

For Umar and his family, life has been anything but easy. His elder brother alternates between working on farms during the rainy seasons and being a lorry driver’s assistant during dry months, often leaving Umar to shoulder caring for their mother and younger siblings. He is the second of seven children, four of whom are girls.

In his family, education is a privilege rather than a right. None of his siblings has completed their schooling; though two began their education, they eventually dropped out due to financial constraints. 

Umar currently works at a printing shop, assisting in the production of sachets for pure water. His meagre earnings keep the family going. 

“I have always wanted to join the armed forces; that is my dream. I also want to go back to school,” he said. 

Brothers united in struggle

At Kuka, a grinding site in Tsohuwar Kasuwa, 15-year-old Ibrahim Abdullahi, works alongside his 18-year-old brother Isma’il. They are two of their parents’ ten children; their lives have been one of poverty and relentless struggle with no end in sight. 

Ibrahim and Ismail operate a disc mill grinder to help support their family. Isma’il, who attended Central Primary School, abandoned his education after primary school to prioritise his family’s needs. 

At one point, Ibrahim saved enough money to enrol in school but gave it to his mother so that he could start a small home-based business instead. She now sells local snacks from her home, including sandar ba’are and ci ka dada (cassava-and-sugar sweets).

Amidst the bitter reality, Ibrahim’s zeal for education remains unbroken. “I’ve never been to school, not even for a day, but I still dream of becoming a lawyer,” he said.

One in every five out-of-school children in the world lives in Nigeria, according to UNICEF. Even though primary education is officially free and compulsory in the country, about 10.5 million children aged 5–14 years are not in school, with the northern region faring worst, where just 53 per cent of children attend primary school. 

“Education became a luxury we could not afford,” Isma’il told HumAngle. 

Even though government schools are tuition-free, the associated costs, Parent Teacher Association fees and graduation expenses, are too high for the family to afford. 

Resilience forged through adversity

Fourteen-year-old Abbas Muhammad carries the weight of responsibility far beyond his years. Born in Potiskum, he has endured a turbulent childhood. His parents divorced when he was younger, and he moved with his mother into her second marriage. Abbas often felt like an outsider in his new household since he was treated differently from his step-siblings. 

Abbas had ambitions of becoming a pilot and began his education at Central Primary School, Potiskum. However, like the other boys, financial challenges forced him to abandon his studies. 

“I still have my UBE (referring to a government-run junior secondary school) uniform,” Abbas said softly, “but my mother couldn’t afford to send me further.”

While Abbas’s step-siblings attended a local private school like Almadina Science Academy Potiskum, he was left behind. Five years ago, Abbas moved in with his grandmother at Tsohuwar Kasuwa. Though she has passed away, Abbas continues living in her house with other relatives. 

Abbas now works as a blacksmith to support himself. “I have to fend for myself now,” he said. Though his ambition to be a pilot has faded, his spirit remains unbroken. 

The stories of Abbas, Isma’il, Ibrahim, and Umar reflect the shared struggles of countless teenage boys in Nigeria’s Northeast—boys whose lives are shaped by conflict, displacement, and the fragile hope of a better future.