Rising inflation in Nigeria turn children from impoverished families out of school and into forced labourers to support their families. This growing economic hardship is stripping the poor of the little security they once had.
Every day at 8 am, while his peers attend classes, 17-year-old Boluwatife Israel works as a mason at a building site. His life changed in 2023 when his father fell ill and could no longer work. Rising inflation forced Boluwatife to leave school and help his family survive. Despite his hopes for a scholarship, his family now depends on his meagre earnings.
The surge in inflation has pushed many children into child labour, a practice described by the International Labour Organisation as harmful to children’s development. Experts fear this trend will continue to rise as economic pressures increase. Sociologist Prof Olatunji Orubuloye highlighted that children are the most affected by their parents’ economic struggles, leading to severe implications for their health and education.
For instance, Obiageli, a single mother of two, had to withdraw her son from school when she couldn’t afford the fees. Her economic hardship has worsened, making it difficult to provide basic necessities. Similarly, 14-year-old Tolulope spends Fridays selling goods at the market instead of attending school, as her family struggles to make ends meet.
The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics reports that 63% of Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, suffering from multiple deprivations beyond income alone. Inflation, currently at 33.69%, is further widening the gap between the rich and the poor, forcing more children into labour and away from education.
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