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Lost to poverty, rescued by hope: Giving Osun’s out-of-school children a second chance
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Good News

Lost to poverty, rescued by hope: Giving Osun’s out-of-school children a second chance

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A free vocational center in Osun State, Nigeria, offers a second chance to out-of-school youth.
  • The center helps vulnerable girls avoid child marriage and teenage pregnancy by teaching practical skills.
  • Nigeria faces a crisis with nearly 20 million out-of-school children, largely due to poverty and instability.

In a community within Nigeria's Osun State, a free vocational center is providing a critical lifeline for vulnerable girls and out-of-school youths. The Princess Ruth Aina Ataiyero Skills Acquisition Centre in Ilesa offers practical training, aiming to steer young people away from child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and street life, while equipping them with skills for a better future.

My classmates are preparing for their WAEC. I keep wondering what will become of me.

— Yemisi AyoolaAn 18-year-old student at the vocational center, describing her feelings after being forced to drop out of school.

Eighteen-year-old Yemisi Ayoola exemplifies the impact of such initiatives. Forced to leave school after Junior Secondary School Two due to her family's financial hardship, she watched her dreams fade. "My classmates are preparing for their WAEC. I keep wondering what will become of me," she told Sunday Vanguard, tears in her eyes. The center has given her renewed hope, and she now learns makeup artistry and hairdressing, though she still hopes to return to formal education.

Nigeria grapples with one of the world's largest populations of out-of-school children, estimated at nearly 20 million, according to recent national data. Harold Kpojime, an Education Specialist with UNICEF Nigeria, highlighted the scale of this crisis, noting that one in every three primary school-age children is not currently in the classroom. Poverty, family instability, and limited access to education are primary drivers, interrupting lives and deferring dreams.

If the government can help me go back to school, I will be happy.

— Yemisi AyoolaExpressing her hope for continued education after finding support at the vocational center.

The vocational center serves as more than just an educational institution; it's a beacon of hope. For many girls and boys, dropping out of school can lead to child labor and other detrimental outcomes. Initiatives like this center are vital in offering a pathway to empowerment and a chance to rewrite their futures, demonstrating the profound difference targeted support can make in the lives of Nigeria's most vulnerable youth.

one in every three primary school-age children is currently not in the classroom

— Harold KpojimeEducation Specialist with UNICEF Nigeria, highlighting the scale of the out-of-school children crisis.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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