How poverty affects childhood development in Nigerian capital

Eight-year-old Marvellous sat on a bare concrete floor in Karshi, a community on the outskirts of Nigeria's capital, Abuja. She clutched a worn pencil, her four younger siblings watching as she wrote on a single sheet of paper. A toddler among them had a runny nose, but the children seemed accustomed to their surroundings.

Their mother, Joy Kelvin, offered a reporter a wooden chair, sitting herself on a stone. The family's home is an unfinished three-bedroom building with exposed concrete walls and deteriorating roofing. They live there temporarily, allowed by the owner after they could no longer afford rent elsewhere. "If the man decides to sell this house, we have no choice but to move again," Mrs. Kelvin said.

Frequent moves disrupt routines, friendships, schooling, and a child's sense of security, all crucial for healthy development, according to experts. Mrs. Kelvin and her husband, a tailor, support their five children on irregular incomes. She works as a domestic helper. Their earnings fluctuate, forcing difficult choices, often leading to just one meal a day for the family.

Despite the hardships, Mrs. Kelvin is determined to keep her children in school. A nearby private school owner allows flexible payments, accepting whatever the family can afford. This flexibility is vital, as without it, keeping the children enrolled would be nearly impossible. The family's situation reflects a broader reality in Nigeria, where poverty profoundly shapes children's living conditions and their opportunities to learn, play, and thrive during their most critical developmental years.

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If the man decides to sell this house, we have no choice but to move again.