The state of the Northern child : the challenges in Northern Nigeria.
In the northern region of Nigeria, Africa you can find numerous traders and nomads. A very prominent characteristic of the people in this region is that they are always on the move, migrating from one part to another (alimanjiri - migrants). Little wonder, they are one of the most populous cultures in Nigeria. Although they have many tribes, "fulani,hausa etc." Most people call them "aboki" which means " friend" in their culture but is used by other people stereotypically to mean "a gullible person". They are viewed as sincere, do not charge high prices for their services and are mostly involved in brown collar jobs. As of 2024, UNICEF confirmed that there were over 15 million out of school children in Northern Nigeria. This is undoubtedly pathetic, most of their wives and children are often seen on the streets begging for alms. There is an escalating state of chaos in their land, their homes are getting burnt, Boko haram traffic and kidnap their children, especially the girls. The "bring back our girls campaign" helped actively to save many girls kidnapped between 2014-2017 and the government is still on the lookout.
This article is to make us realize that while we are stereotyping and blaming the government, millions of children can't go to school and don't have a place to lay their head, IPCINFO website reported that "Nearly 5.4 million children aged 0-59 months in northwest and northeast Nigeria are suffering from acute malnutrition and will likely continue suffering through 2025." What can we do? How can the government intervene? As individuals, we should stop stigmatizing and seeing them as subclass individuals. Everyone has a right. The government should be genuinely interested in improving their infrastructures and not just treat them well when it's election time to milk votes. Schools, a conducive and secure environment is what the children of Northern Nigeria seek.
~Jesunifemi
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