INVESTIGATION: How Economic Hardship Fuels Rise in Out-of-School Children in Lakechad Sectors of Yobe & Borno States
By Abdullateef Goni
Kanempress Investigative Report
5th December 2024
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports alarming numbers of out-of-school children in Yobe and Borno states, with over 427,230 children in Yobe, representing 43% of the child population, and approximately 800,000 out-of-school children in Borno.
This staggering figure is revealing the devastating impact of economic hardship on education, according to UNESCO, which notes that Nigeria accounts for one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with approximately 18.5 million children between 5-14 years old not attending school.
Kanempress’ investigation reveals that economic hardship exacerbates this crisis, forcing parents to struggle to provide basic necessities and pushing children into hawking and other forms of child labour.
In Potiskum, Yobe State, Kabiru Muhammad, a trader, shared his experience with Kanempress. “Last year, I had N2M as capital, but economic hardship reduced it to less than N200,000. I barely feed my family now. Many of my children are not attending school because I cannot afford uniforms and learning materials.”
Fatima Ibrahim, a 10-year-old hawker, recounted her experience to Kanempress. “I was in Primary four before hardship forced me to leave. My father traveled to Lagos for work, and I now sell ‘Awara’ to help my mom. I want to continue schooling.” Abbas Abdullahi, another young hawker, aspired to become a lawyer but economic hardship forced him into hawking. “I had big dreams, but now I’m just trying to survive,” Abdullahi lamented to Kanempress.
In Yobe State, the government launched a back-to-school campaign in Bursali, Gujba, and Geidam local government areas. Alhaji Isa Shettima, Secretary of the Yobe State Universal Basic Education Board, emphasized the need for community support. “We need everyone’s help to get these children back in school,” Shettima told Kanempress.
However, Borno State faces an even more severe crisis. Over a decade of Boko Haram insurgency has displaced many, burned houses to ashes, and exacerbated economic hardship. Umar Abba, a 16-year-old hawker in Maiduguri, shared his story with Kanempress. “I dropped out of school after my father was killed. I now sell vegetables to support my mom.” Halima Mohammed, 14, aspired to become a teacher but economic hardship forced her into hawking.
Kanempress interviewed numerous out-of-school children in Borno State, each with heartbreaking stories. Aisha Abubakar, a mother of five, revealed that “My husband was killed by Boko Haram. I now sell food to feed my children, but it’s not enough. Two of my children are not in school.” Kanempress reported that Borno State’s displacement camps are filled with families struggling to survive.
Garba Musa, an activist, said that the Borno State Government must intensify efforts to address the crisis. “The government needs to do more to support these children,” Musa urged in an interview with Kanempress. While commending the government’s efforts, he emphasized the need for international organizations and NGOs to prioritize education in their humanitarian response. “We need everyone’s help to address this crisis,” he added.
Musa stated that the economic hardship disproportionately affects vulnerable children in Yobe and Borno states, forcing them out of school and into hazardous labor. “The fate of these children hangs in the balance, and collective effort is required to safeguard their right to education,” Musa warned.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also urged critical stakeholders to scale up funding in education sectors, describing the situation as an “education emergency crisis” in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States. The UN Agency lamented that there are approximately 2 million children estimated to be out of school across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States.
