Forgotten faces on the street tell silent stories of survival and dreams long deferred. Each wrinkle, each weary glance, carries a memory of better days.
Every morning, as the city stirs to life, another world quietly wakes up, a world most people prefer not to see.
On the corners of busy markets, under flyovers, and by traffic lights, women with babies strapped to their backs sit in silence while young boys wander barefoot with empty bowls in hand.
These are not passers-by or traders trying to make a living, they are the forgotten faces of our streets “women and children” whose only shelter is the open sky and whose only certainty is struggle.
The streets have become a home for many who once had homes of their own. Some lost their husbands to conflict, others fled their villages in search of safety, and many more were driven out by poverty.
Forgotten Faces On The Street
Their children, too young to work but too hungry to stay idle, now beg, sell water, or perform small tasks for coins. Each face tells a story of survival, but behind every smile lies pain and hopelessness indeed.
Women Living in Hardship
Many of these women are widows, displaced persons, or victims of early marriage. They once dreamed of better lives, but circumstances forced them to trade dignity for survival.
Beneath makeshift shades or under scorching sun, they sit with tired eyes, hoping someone will show compassion.
Some sell roasted groundnuts, fruits, or sachet water, while others simply wait for charity from strangers.
One of them, Mrs Hajara Abdullahi, shared her story: “I was once strong and full of life. My husband farmed while I sold groundnuts. But when he became sick and couldn’t work, our lives changed.
My business collapsed because I had no capital left. I never imagined I would end up on the street, but this is the only way I can feed my children now.”
Her words echo the struggles of countless women who live on the streets, forced there not by choice but by hardship.
Children of the Almajiri System
Among the most visible faces on Nigeria’s streets are the Almajiri children, young boys who roam about with bowls in hand, seeking food or coins.
The Almajiri system was originally a noble institution rooted in Islamic education.
It was meant to train young minds in moral discipline and spiritual learning. Sadly, over time, poverty and neglect have turned it into a breeding ground for exploitation.
Forgotten Faces On The Street
Parents, unable to feed or educate their children, hand them over to clerics who promise to teach them religion. In reality, many of these children are left to fend for themselves, exposed to hunger, disease, and abuse.
Some are barely five years old, wandering the streets barefoot. A boy named Sagir, one of the Almajiri pupils in Kano, said, “My parents send food sometimes, but it’s not enough. I have to beg to survive.”
Girls, on the other hand, often sell small items like water, peanuts, or fruits.
Many become easy targets for child labour, sexual abuse, or early pregnancy. They live without protection, without schooling, and without hope.
Government Efforts and Challenges
Over the years, both the government and international organisations have more or less tried to improve the lives of street children and women in Northern Nigeria.
The Federal Government’s Almajiri Education Programme which was geared to combine Islamic learning with formal education.
According to reports, over 18,000 Almajiri teachers have been integrated into the modern school system.
The goal is to keep children off the streets while preserving their religious studies.
Likewise, in Kaduna State, a partnership between the government and UNICEF introduced a monthly ₦5,000 cash transfer to families of Almajiri children.
This helps reduce the financial pressure that often pushes children to the streets. UNICEF also established Child-Friendly Spaces in Kano, Sokoto, and Kaduna to provide mentorship, vocational training, and life skills for both boys and girls who are out of school.
However, despite these efforts, the problem continues to grow. Many programmes only offer temporary relief but fail to address the root causes such as poverty, weak child protection laws, and lack of monitoring in Almajiri schools.
Forgotten Faces On The Street
A 2023 report by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) noted that most interventions lack sustainability. Without proper follow-up, many children end up back on the streets within months.
The Need for Real Reform
Experts and community leaders have repeatedly called for deeper reforms, through arguing that the solution goes beyond feeding or enrolling children in school.
It requires strong laws, community participation, and accountability among religious teachers.
Additionally, empowering women is crucial. Many of the mothers on the streets would prefer to work or start small businesses if given the opportunity.
Access to small loans, vocational skills, and social support could positively transform their lives and reduce the number of children exposed to street life.
The Human Cost
Living on the street takes a toll on both the body and the spirit. The children suffer from hunger, poor hygiene, and constant exposure to danger.
Diseases spread easily, and without medical care, even a small illness can become deadly.
Emotionally, many lose their sense of belonging and grow up with feelings of rejection. For the women, the pain is double, they carry the burden of caring for their children while enduring humiliation from society. People often see them as beggars rather than survivors.
Yet, behind their weary faces are mothers who once had dreams, wives who once had homes, and citizens who deserve dignity!!!
Hope and Humanity
There is still hope, across Nigeria, a growing number of young volunteers, journalists, and activists are using their voices to raise awareness about street life.
Forgotten Faces On The Street
Some local NGOs have started offering free lessons to street children, while others organize feeding programmes. These small acts of kindness show that change is possible when society chooses compassion over indifference.
But to truly end this cycle, governments must do more than issuing fake promises.
Real progress will come when social welfare programmes reach the poor, when schools are safe and accessible, and when women are supported rather than absolutely abandoning them.
Conclusion
The faces on the streets are not invisible; we only choose not to look. They are the forgotten faces of Nigeria’s cities; women and children who live each day in search of food, safety, and hope.
They need not our pity, but our action. A nation that ignores its vulnerable will one day be haunted by the consequences.
Forgotten Faces On The Street
By; Sulaiman Nana Aisha
