24/04/2026
Street Children in Ibadan Metropolis: A Call for Urgent, Coordinated Action
Dr. Rosemary Odigbo, a seasoned social worker and child protection advocate, brings over two decades of hands-on experience working with vulnerable children and youths across Oyo State. She is the Founder of Jesus Children Missions Outreach (JCMO), the State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network Nigeria (CPNN), Oyo State Chapter, and the South West Coordinator of the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria. She has remained at the forefront of interventions aimed at safeguarding at-risk children.
According to Dr. Odigbo, street children in Ibadan represent one of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in the state. These are children who either live entirely on the streets or spend most of their day there, occasionally returning home at night. They are commonly found in busy areas such as Dugbe, Mokola, Oje, Bodija, Iwo Road, Ojoo, and under bridges "Abe Bridge", where they engage in hawking, begging, and other forms of menial labor just to survive.
She explains that the issue of street children is not new but continues to grow in complexity. Over the years, she has been directly involved in outreach efforts, psychosocial support, rehabilitation programs, and family reintegration initiatives. In some cases, children are placed in safer environments when returning home is no longer an option.
The majority of these children are boys between the ages of 8 and 17. However, there is a noticeable increase in the number of girls on the streets, a development that raises serious concerns due to their heightened vulnerability to sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
Dr. Odigbo identifies several root causes driving children to the streets. Chief among them is poverty, but other contributing factors include family breakdown, domestic abuse, neglect, loss of parents, and peer influence. In some cases, children are pushed into street life by their own families to contribute financially. Weak child protection systems and limited access to essential social services further worsen the situation.
Life on the streets is described as extremely harsh and dangerous. These children often sleep under bridges, in abandoned structures, or in open marketplaces. Basic necessities such as clean water, food, healthcare, and sanitation are largely inaccessible. They are constantly exposed to harsh weather conditions, violence, and exploitation.
Their daily existence revolves around survival. From early morning, they roam markets, motor parks, and busy roads in search of food or money. At night, they return to familiar spots to rest. Their lives lack structure, stability, and protection.
The daily struggles they face are overwhelming ranging from hunger and lack of shelter to untreated illnesses, harassment, poor hygiene, emotional distress, and societal stigma. Without support systems, many are left to fend for themselves in an unforgiving environment.
To cope with these challenges, street children often form informal groups, sometimes referred to as “street families,” for protection and companionship. While this can provide some level of security, it may also expose them to negative influences, including petty crime. Some children become exposed to substance use and harmful coping behaviours as a way of managing stress, trauma, and the harsh realities of street life. Others depend on occasional assistance from non-governmental organizations, religious institutions, and compassionate individuals.
Intervention Efforts
Efforts to address the plight of street children in Ibadan are being carried out through a combination of government and non-governmental interventions. Government agencies have put in place measures such as rescue operations, temporary shelter services, and collaboration with social welfare departments to support vulnerable children. However, these interventions are often limited in scope and require strengthening for greater impact.
Non-governmental organizations and faith-based institutions continue to play a significant role by providing feeding programmes, temporary shelter, vocational training, counseling, and rehabilitation services. Some initiatives also focus on family tracing and reintegration, as well as placement into foster care systems.
Despite these efforts, Dr. Odigbo emphasizes that interventions remain insufficient when compared to the scale of the problem.
Long-Term Strategies for Sustainable Impact
Dr. Odigbo emphasizes that beyond immediate interventions, there is a critical need for long-term, preventive strategies that address the root causes of streetism. Central to this is the promotion of safer family environments and stable family backgrounds for children.
Strengthening families through economic empowerment, parenting education, and social support systems can significantly reduce the likelihood of children being pushed to the streets. Efforts should focus on helping families provide safe, nurturing, and protective homes where children’s basic needs, emotional, physical, and educational are adequately met.
In addition, community-based support structures should be reinforced to identify at-risk families early and provide timely interventions. Building resilient family systems will not only prevent children from migrating to the streets but also support successful reintegration for those already affected.
Dr. Odigbo stresses that sustainable change can only be achieved when families are empowered, communities are actively involved, and government policies intentionally prioritize child welfare and family stability.
Ultimately, addressing the plight of street children in Ibadan requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach. Without deliberate and sustained action, a significant number of children will continue to grow up without the protection, care, and opportunities they deserve.
