From Street Touts to Purpose: Rescued Lives Find New Direction

Ahmed Oyewale, a 34-year-old former street tout, now works as an assistant production manager in Lagos, a life he once only dreamed of. His journey from orphanhood, abandonment, and drug addiction to stability is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of rehabilitation.

“

Not even in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I would one day become a graduate or be where I am today.

Oyewale's childhood was marked by tragedy. He lost his father at age eight and his mother in 2008, leaving him to navigate a difficult path. After experiencing mistreatment and abandonment, he escaped a church-run facility and returned to Lagos in 2011, only to find himself homeless and facing rejection from relatives.

“

My mother died in 2008. She went to bed and didn’t wake up. There were speculations about what could have caused it. Some said it was a spiritual attack, while others said she had hypertension. That was how my world came crashing down.

Life on the streets of Lagos became his reality. He recounts the despair and the struggle for survival, a stark contrast to the professional image he now projects. The turning point came when he was connected with a program that offered rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration services.

“

When the abandonment and suffering became too much for me, I self-harmed, and the facility took me to a hospital. It was from that hospital that I escaped.

Through these programs, Oyewale received the support needed to overcome his past challenges. He has since rebuilt his life, finding employment and now aspiring to pursue higher education. His story highlights the possibility of redemption and purpose for individuals who have experienced profound hardship.

“

When I arrived and appealed to the pastors, some of whom were my mother’s friends, they didn’t seem willing to help. They kept referring me from one office to another until I realised they didn’t care about my situation, despite how much my mother had laboured.